Suicidality among Homosexuals - Research Paper Example

Suicidality among Homosexuals Introduction Homosexuality has been a contentious topic in the 21st centaury with the majority of scholars and researchers, on the subject, holding divergent views and ideas on the topic. However, what is not controversial is that the subject of homosexuality features more predominantly in the 21st than in the last centaury. This can be partly accredited to the rising awareness on the topic caused by the increasing advocacy on gay rights issues, as well as the volumes of scholarly articles dedicated to the topic. In recent times, homosexuality has been blamed for the growing number of suicides among the urban population. In particular, homosexuality has been accredited with the rising number of teenage suicides in the contemporary American society. For example, the 2001 data on American suicides ranked homosexuality third in the causes of death among American teenagers between the ages of fifteen to twenty years (McIntosh, 2003). This high number of suicides resulting from homosexuality may be blamed on the society’s view and definition of homosexuality. As a starting point, this paper will focus on the definition of the term ‘homosexuality’ and examine this definition has led to the increasing number of suicide cases among the homosexuals. In carrying out this examination, the paper will also rely on the stereotypes and popular beliefs on homosexuality as the cause of suicides among the LBTG community. What is homosexuality? Homosexuality was defined differently across most cultures of the world. This is because different cultures have divergent meaning of the term and in some, the term is non-existent. However, the term may be broadly defined as the sexual behavior or attraction among persons of the same sex. That is, men are sexually attracted to men and women attracted to fellow women. Homosexuality, in most ancient cultures, was considered to be against normal human behavior. It was thus seen as a crime against nature and an extension of paganism, which was then considered a serious crime due to the threat it posed towards religion. However, although times have changed and the society evolved, some of the ancient beliefs on homosexuality have not changed. The most dominant view in society is the conservative view, which is to the effect that, “Homosexuality is an aberration, the orientation is a disorder, and the behavior is pathological” (Shagor, 2005). It is this view by the society that has been controversial, and has influenced the various stereotypes and beliefs surrounding homosexuality. This is because the view portrays members of the LBTG as queer and social misfits. The next part of this paper will therefore examine these stereotypes and popular beliefs as the grounds of suicidal tendencies among the LBTG group. Suicidality among the LBTG group Leading scholars, such as Campos (2005, p.20), have identified suicidality to be the greatest basis of death among the LBTG members. He asserts that most of these deaths are high in homosexual teenagers as opposed to their heterosexual counter parts. This position is resonated by the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre of the United States, which found that homosexual youth are more likely to commit suicide in the ration of 1.5 to 7 times more than their heterosexual counterparts (Sieccan Newsletter, 2009, p.223). The convergent views expressed by the aforementioned researchers portray the homosexuals as a minority group in need of protection and care by the society. The largest contributors to homosexual suicides are the popular beliefs about homosexuality envisaged by the society. For the majority of people in society, homosexuality is viewed as a queer behavior that is shunned by the society. Often, this notion leads to a sense of guilt and uneasiness among teenage homosexuals who are confronted by the challenge of seeking self-identity. The resulting guilt and perception makes the LBTG members view themselves as society misfits, who have no vital role to play in society. In this respect, Canadian researchers have been able to establish a correlation that most of these suicides occur at a period when the youth is undergoing a period of seeking a self-identity (Dorais and Lajeunesse, 2004). In most cases, this is the period when the youth has come out of the closet, or is in fear of coming out. In such cases, the homosexual youth is unable to grasp adequately the changes that are taking place in his/her body and why he/she is so different from other people in the society. Such questions lead to a low self-esteem resulting in depression, which creates suicidal predispositions among such youths. Studies have also shown that the LBTG group is prone to homophobic victimization, which is a leading cause of suicides among the group (Sieccan Newsletter, 2009, p.223). The study found that when compared to their heterosexual counterparts, the majority of the LBTG groups were most likely to report cases of bullying, homophobic abuse and depression. The homophobic victimization and persistent bullying by their peers was identified as the leading causes of suicides among the teenage LBTG group (Birket, Espelage, & Koenig, 2009, p.991). The question that then arises is, why homophobic victimization? The answer to this question can be traced to the popular belief that homosexuality is an abomination and should thus be shunned in society. This view mainly emanates from a majority of religious teachings, which denounce homosexuality and deem it as a social vice. In such cases, the practice of homosexuality is highly discouraged and perceived homosexuals are encouraged to seek treatment and counseling to reform and refrain from such practice. This is because religion employs the morality factor, which is employed to discourage homosexuality and portray it as an immoral act resulting from sexual pervasion and addiction. This gradually led to the labeling of homosexuals as societal outcasts who lived outside the society’s moral code, and the resulting effect was the development of homophobic tendencies towards the homosexual community. Partly to blame for the homophobic victimization is the homosexual stereotypes that have been advanced mainly by the media. The media has played a significant role in advancing various stereotypes on homosexuality that has served as the hallmarks of identifying homosexuals in the society. Often, the media has painted homosexuals to exhibit certain traits such as, men who frequently exhibit female tendencies are considered homosexuals, and women conversely who posses masculine body structures and have short hairs are considered homosexual. This form of stereotyping has exposed such individuals to homophobic victimization, never mind the fact that the mere exhibition of these traits alone do not amount to homosexuality. There is also the popular view that homosexuality is a behavioral trait that can be picked up during childhood. Advocates of this view argue that since homosexuality is a behavioral trait, homosexuals can drop their practice just like any other form of unwholesome habit. Barnecka (2005, p.10) argues that homosexuality is a learned trait that is learned during childhood. She reaffirms this view by stating that the sexuality of a person, in most cases, is determined by the first sexual encounter. If such an encounter occurs between persons of the same sex, then such a person will most likely develop homosexual attributes. Barnecka (2005, p.10) also approaches homosexuality from the point of behavior learned through childhood. She argues that homosexuality may be learned through childhood whereby she refers to this as ‘learned homosexuality.’ To this extent, she argues that homosexuals tended to behave contrary to what was expected of their sexual category during childhood. This is evident through the child’s preference of toys, either dolls for girls and cars for boys. She observes that children who developed homosexual tendencies often chose the opposite set of toys and while growing up, they were either referred to as ‘tomboys’ such girls and ‘sissies’ for the boys. The central argument for this argument is that homosexuality is a learned process, and thus capable of correction through behavioral change. The above view on homosexuality may be cited as one of the leading causes of suicides among the LBTG groups. This is because it informs the opinion that homosexuality is a learned process, which can willingly be corrected through behavioral change. This leads to exerted pressure on the homosexual community to change their ways and refrain from engaging in homosexual tendencies. Such exerted pressure leads to depression, which then triggers suicidal thoughts and tendencies among the homosexual youths. Conclusion This research has been significant in expounding the rising cases of suicidal tendencies among the members of the LBTG group. The paper demonstrates how the perceived beliefs and stereo types on homosexuality can be attributed to the rising number of homosexual suicides as well as some of the fallacies surrounding the homosexuality debate. This is because the perception that homosexuality is a learned behavior has been the key contributor to the rising suicides among the homosexuals as it leads to the perception that if homosexuality is a learned behavior, then homosexuals in society can be made to reform. However, the resulting effect of this perception has been increased pressure on the LBTG members to reform hence contributing to rising cases of depression among the class. It is this depression and rejection based on these flawed perceptions of homosexuality that has been the chief cause of rising suicides among the homosexuals. Research needs to continue along this field so as so continue debunking these harmful popular beliefs as to homosexuality, and offer adequate protection measures to the LBTG member groups. References Barnecka, J. (2005). Homosexuality. Roskilde University. Retrieved on October 26, 2011 from: Birkett, M., Espelage, D.L., & Koenig, B. (2009). ‘LGB and questioning students in schools: The moderating effects of homophobic bullying and school climate on negative outcomes.’ Journal of Youth Adolescence, 38, 989-1000. Campos, D. (2005). Understanding gay and lesbian youth: Lessons for straight schoolteachers, counselors, and administrators, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education. Dorais, M., & Lajeunesse, S. L. (2004). Dead boys can’t dance: Sexual orientation, masculinity, and suicide (P. Tremblay, Trans.). Montreal, PQ: McGill-Queen’s University Press. McIntosh, J.L. (2003). U.S.A. suicide: 2001 Official final data. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from: www.sieccan.org/pdf/wellsfinal7dec24.pdf Shagor, 2005, ‘Homosexuality: A brief Study.’ Journal of homosexuality studies vol. 4 1-9 Sieccan Newsletter, (2009), ‘Research exploring the health, wellness, and safety concerns of sexual minority youth’ The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, Vol. 18 (4) 221-227 Read More