When a man loves another man

Does the above title raise prejudices in you? Does it seem immoral? Do you see it as something taken for granted or normal?

 

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Every one of us probably has a different answer. It depends on various factors, for instance, the environment we live in, socialisation and, of course, personal characteristics of an individual.

Let us therefore examine some facts that will help reveal the secret of homosexuality and thus dispel the fear against the unknown.

 

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Why are some people homosexually oriented?

Homosexuality, that is, emotional and physical attraction to the same sex, is a combination of genetic, hormone, cognitive and environmental factors. A lot of homosexuals believe they have always been like that. Others begin noticing at the age of 6 or 8 that they are different from the others of their age, and some people discover it when they are in the teenage years. It often happens that men discover their homosexuality only after starting the family.

According to certain statements, homosexuality in a man is caused by a dominant mother and the weakness or absence of the father. Researches also show that men who have an elder brother or several brothers are much more likely to have homosexual tendencies. According to the research, 70% of men who had at least 4 brothers became homosexuals.

However, scientists, and among them the well-known psychologist M. Bailey, still carry out research on the exact genetic and prenatal factors that could be favourable for the development of homosexuality.

 

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What are the opinions on homosexuals?

More than 2300 years ago Plato defended homosexuality by writing Symposium. Unfortunately, his work fell into oblivion and, instead, for 2300 years we have been listening to the teachings of Christians and Jews about homosexuality as the cardinal sign, or crime against nature. In the past, they even tried to cure them with electroshocks, while Hitler sent them to gas chambers during the Second World War.

 

And all of that just because of the fear against being different? Or perhaps because of anger when finding out one’s own same sex orientation? The correct answer is probably buried or hidden under the weight of religious dogmas.

 

Homosexuals used to be – and, unfortunately, they still are in some places – belittled in various ways. They were considered degenerate, ill and insecure in the attitude to women. However, the truth was revealed by researches showing that they do not hate women and are not afraid of them. They do not have bad experience with the opposite sex and they have not been mislead into homosexuality.

 

What is the actual situation?

In Japan, for instance, the viewpoints on homosexuality are contradictory. Since Christians are in minority, there is no fear of homosexuality being considered a sin, and even in the early Japanese literary works homosexual men are portrayed in a very positive way. We could therefore say that gay culture simply thrives in Asian countries. It often happens that a man only marries to be socially acceptable on the outside, while he still has relationships with men in his private life.

 
An urgent problem are undefined legal regulations for marriage and the stereotypical opinion on adoption, although mention should be made that children brought up by homosexual couples are not more inclined to homosexuality, which was also confirmed by research.

Why are we still concerned with people who are in love and not with those who hate and kill others? Who among them is more “normal”, the former or the latter? Why do we still have prejudices?

 

 

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