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Homosexuality
“The love that dare not speak its
name”
Oscar Wilde
“I’m the only
Gay in the
village”
Homosexuality
in History
• Homosexuality has been
subjected to
misunderstanding and
discrimination.
• Homosexuals have been
branded as perverts, their
behaviour unnatural and
disgusting – a threat to
society and responsible for
the spread of Aids.
• This fear has been labled
homophobia
There is more of an acceptance of gay rights today,
partly because public attitudes have changed.
The general acceptance of gay rights has been
evident in TV programs. Can you think of any?
The legal age for two men to have sex has dropped
from 21 to 18.
Not everyone accepts homosexuality – in a survey in
1994- 70% British men and 60% of British women
are homophobic! Can you find a similar more recent
survey? Have attitudes changed?
The origins of the word
Homosexuality
This word is a combination of the Latin ‘sexus’ and
the Greek ‘homo’, which means same. More recently
gay was chosen as a positive term. The dictionary
definition of gay now refers firstly to the sexual
attraction of two people sharing the same gender
rather than the old fashioned definition which meant
‘happy’. However look at how it is used negatively
amongst today’s generation!
What’s in a word??
The word
homosexuality was
first used in 1882 as a
medical term. It was
regarded as a
psychiatric disorder. In
fact it was not taken
off the list until 1973
when it was renamed
‘Sexual orientation
disturbance’!!!
There has been
constant investigation
to find the cause of
homosexuality…
•
•
•
•
Underlying medical cause?
Genetic predisposition?
Genetic defect?
Childhood experience/abuse?
In 1993 the American Journal of
Science contained an article
which claimed to have located the
Gene ‘responsible’ for homosexuality
in the X chromosome. 33/40 pairs
of homosexual brothers shared
certain DNA. This was later
criticised for making simplistic
assumptions.
It is now clear the human beings
are not simply heterosexual but
bisexual and homosexual.
American researcher Kinsey
stated “The world is not divided
into sheep and goats”
Homosexuality
is not natural
Eighteen century philosopher
Jean Jacques Rousseau believed
that everybody is born essentially
good and would remain so if they
stayed close to nature. It is natural to
obey the laws of nature (Aquinas
would agree). Homosexuality
does not promote or preserve life.
Homosexual sex is not part of God’s
creative propose. Sex acts should be
open to achieving the final cause –
PROCREATION. Masturbation,
contraception, oral sex and
homosexuality do not fill this purpose
and are therefore wrong.
Homosexuality is seen
by some as a sin; it
falls short of God’s
expectations.
Is homosexuality a
moral issue?
Some people believe that homosexuality
is a moral issue . Many are concerned
that it promotes promiscuity and
undermines family values which make for
an ordered society. Professor of applied
Philosophy John Harris believes that sex
activities should not even be viewed in a
moral context. Sex acts that take place
between two consenting adults may be
considered obscene and disgusting by
others. This is not a moral reaction.
People have the right to be protected
from danger and disgusting behaviour
against their will, but they have no
right stopping others from
activities that don’t harm another.
“the only purpose
for which power
can rightfully be
exercised over any
member of a
civilised
community
against his will is to
prevent harm to
others”
John Stuart Mill
“Every person has a
right to maximum
amount of liberty
compatible with
allowing liberty for all”
John Rawls
H hart
Criticises Delvin..
He states that there is a
distinction between what is
immoral and what is affront
to public decency. He finds it
difficult to see how a private
act could do harm.
Lord Delvin
Challenged these views….
Any society may take
steps to preserve its own
existence and that
private sexual morality,
like treason, could
jeopardise a society’s
existence. Society must
take steps to preserve
its own existence as an
organised society even if
it means prohibiting
sexual immorality.
Tasks
1.
2.
Define homosexual, heterosexual and homophobic.
List other words that have been used to describe
homosexuality. Why do you think these particular words have
been chosen? What do they show about peoples attitudes?
3.
For each of the following theories state whether you think
they suggest homosexuality is right or wrong. Give a reasoned
response.
a) Natural Law
b) Situation Ethics
c) Kantian Ethics
d) Utilitarianism
e) Virtue Ethics
4.
Make a list of arguments to support the idea that the
government has no right to interfere with an individual’s
personal life.
5.
Make a list of arguments to support the idea that the
government does have the right to interfere with an
individuals personal life.