Homosexuality

Since its coining, the term homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. In the original sense, it refers to a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. It can also refer to the manifestation of that orientation in the identity of an individual, which may or may not be at odds with that person's sexual behavior. Finally, it can refer to sexual relations with another of the same sex regardless of one's sexual orientation, self-identification or gender identity.

Related Topics:
Sexual orientation - Aesthetic - Romantic love - Sexual desire - Sex - Gender identity - Sexual relations

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Homosexuality is usually contrasted with heterosexuality and bisexuality (see sexual orientation). Three major forms of homosexual relationships are recognized by anthropologists: egalitarian, gender-structured, and age-structured. Of these, one is usually dominant in a given society at a given time. (See Forms below.) As there are different biological, historical and psycho-social components to sex and gender, no single label or description will fit all individuals. See discussions on sex and gender at sex and Homosexuality and transgender.

Related Topics:
Heterosexuality - Bisexuality - Sexual orientation - Egalitarian, - Gender-structured, - Age-structured. - Forms - Sex - Homosexuality and transgender

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Scientific research generally finds that exclusively homosexual or exclusively heterosexual individuals form a minority of the human population, with bisexuality as the norm (not necessarily in overt behavior, but in attractions). As a theoretical matter, from the beginning of the 20th century, psychoanalysis posited original bisexuality in human psychological development. Quantitative studies from Alfred Kinsey's in the 1940s to, for example, Dr Fritz Klein's Klein Grid in the 1980s, find similar distributions. The Kinsey Reports found that approximately four percent of adult Americans were exclusively homosexual for their entire lives, and approximately 10 percent were for some portion of their lives. During the 2000 elections exit polls indicated four percent of American voters self-identified as gay or lesbian in the U.S.

Related Topics:
Psychoanalysis - Alfred Kinsey - 1940s - Dr Fritz Klein - 1980s - Kinsey Reports

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Native American religions generally grant gender-variant individuals honored status for their perceived spiritual powers. Buddhism, Greek, Japanese, Melanesian, Roman religion, and Taoism take a positive outlook.

Related Topics:
Native American - Spiritual powers - Buddhism - Greek - Japanese - Melanesian - Roman religion - Taoism

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Hinduism has taken various positions, ranging from positive to neutral or antagonistic. Confucianism has allowed homosexual sex with the precondition of procreation. Abrahamic religions have held varied views of homosexuality, depending on place, time and form of same-sex desire. Islam has regarded homosexual love as sacred while condeming homosexual sex. Christianity and Judaism have traditionally thought of homosexual love and sex to be unnatural and sinful.

Related Topics:
Hinduism - Confucianism - Abrahamic religions - Islam - Christianity - Judaism

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Most nations do not impede consensual sex between unrelated individuals above the local age of consent. Some jurisdictions further recognize equal rights, protections and privileges for the family structures of gay couples, including same-sex marriage. Other countries, such as some fundamentalist Islamic countries, mandate that homosexuals and bisexuals restrict themselves to heterosexual relationships (at the extreme, threatening transgressors with capital punishment). Often, significant differences exist between official policy and concrete enforcement.

Related Topics:
Age of consent - Same-sex marriage - Capital punishment

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