Essay on Homosexuality: Social Acceptance, Punishment, and Cultural Change

Introduction

Homosexuality is mainly described as the sexual behavior, sexual attraction, or romantic attraction of people of the same gender or sex. At different times and in various cultures and societies, homosexual practices have been tolerated, approved, punished, and banned. For instance, homosexuality between men was prevalent in Rome and Greece, which has become an essential chief focus or western classicist in recent years in the past few years (Roggemans, Spruyt, Droogenbroeck, & Keppens, 2015). On the other hand, Christianity and Muslim cultures have perceived homosexuality as sinful and immoral. Most of the Christian and Jewish leaders have gone the extra mile to makes clear that the acts of homosexuality are not an orientation or inclination that the faiths proscribe (Worthen, Lingiardi, & Caristo, 2017).

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Similarly, other organizations such as Protestantism have advocated for social grounds for the acceptability of homosexuality. There is scientific evidence that genetics plays a crucial role in homosexuality. Religion and genetics play are essential to homosexuality as they come from a different point of view regarding the issue.

Genetic Role in Homosexuality

An extensive analysis of the genetics of same-sex sexual behavior was conducted to determine the role that genetics plays to influence on people of same-sex sex (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019). The study indicated that the influence does not come from one gene but several, which are tiny. The other explanation in the influence of genetics is from social and environmental factors. However, this makes it hard to use genes as a basis if someone's sexuality (Adamczyk & Pitt, 2009). Benjamin Neale argued that science should be used to educate people on how normal and natural same-sex behavior is. Consequently, a lead researcher at MIT and Harvard states that genes are part of the environment and to dictate how people are and how they behave.

Primarily, there is a difference in genetic details of same-sex behavior in women and men. The genetic of same-sex has some correlation with the genes that are involved n personality traits and mental issues. This overlap mainly reflects on the stress of enduring societal prejudice. Some of the researchers who are part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) fear that the discoveries of genetics in influence on homosexuality can be used as basis discrimination (Worthen et al., 2017). Moreover, people who have same-sex partners there is a high likelihood that they have a specific DNA marker that is linked to same-sex sexual orientation. There are some people in the community who are born with certain traits of another opposite gender (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019). This means that they will have to live with those traits, and with time they will at some point in their life develop a feeling of the same gender to try and fulfill their fantasies and sexual desires. This gives rise to same-sex behaviors.

However, there is no clear way of determining whether an individual is bisexual, gay. Lesbian, or strait. The research found out that one of the genetic variants of homosexuality is associated with male baldness (Adamczyk & Pitt, 2009). This means that there is a link between sex hormones, such as testosterone. However, this outcome is limited, as there are no other researches that can support this finding. Therefore, there needs to be more researches to back up this information so that it can be believable.

The Role of Religion in Homosexuality

Most people who are associated with homosexuality are not allowed in religious activities or gatherings. Religious people believe that homosexuality is a sinful activity; it should be allowed to enter in any faith. Religious teaching has for the longest time, been against same-sex behaviors (Worthen et al., 2017). This prompted the formation of LGBT groups across the globe to fight for the rights of same-sex people and how they can be easily absorbed in society. There are different aspects and dimensions of religion, such as beliefs, knowledge, saliency, experience, and religious practices (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019). Religion has been used for a long time to fight homosexuality as the faith people do not believe in sexuality as bible teaching is against the practice. Primarily, the religious practices fall under two classes which are devotion and rituals.

People who are associated with a particular religious group are expected to abide by certain group norms and values. Moreover, if the social norm of the group is to reject homosexuality, the people within the group will have to comply with the norms and values of the group (Adamczyk & Pitt, 2009). Therefore, to be accepted in a particular religious group, an individual should have a rejection of homosexuality compared to non-adherence. However, there is a big difference in denominations on the issue of homosexuality (Worthen et al., 2017). Primarily, the Muslim culture disapproves of homosexuality more than the Catholics, Jews, Hindus, orthodox, and Christians (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019).

On the contrary, Muslims and protestants did not have a big difference in their belief about homosexuality (Roggemans et al., 2015). There are conservative protestants who have accepted the idea of homosexuality in their daily practices. This has made them gain more followers as the more traditional protestants are losing followers.

Belief is the essential feature that most Christians live by as they believe in the power of the supreme God. Moreover, they think He does not condone such behaviors as homosexuality. This is the main reason why the church has been of the fore front against the practice of homosexuality as people are trying to strengthen their belief in the religion (Roggemans et al., 2015). This has resulted in unfavorable attitudes towards other groups in the community, such as the LGBT. This begs the question if God is for us; all them whey are the LGBT community being neglected (Adamczyk & Pitt, 2009). This means that there is an induced negative attitude towards certain groups in the community, such as LGBT that have a different view of life and how they want to live. Instead of religion bringing people together, it is drifting people apart as some are perceived to violate some of the norms and values of religious denominations.

The Impact of Religion and LGBT

Although it is clear that there is an existing prejudice that is directed towards transgender, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people across the globe, there are few studies that have been conducted to indicate an in-depth investigation on the issue (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019). Many people do not understand how there is a correlation of attitudes toward LGBT people who are similar and different across various locations. Primarily, it is not clear how people learn to counteract the negative prejudice on these groups. Mostly, there are three critical trends that have emerged from these aspects, and they include, firstly, the negative attitude towards the LGBT people (Worthen et al., 2017). Most of these negative attitudes are fueled by the Christian belief that homosexuality is sinful. This is because church attendance is the prejudice of LGBT. However, it is crucial to consider the relationship between prejudicial attitudes and religiosity.

The constructs that are related to attitudes towards homosexuality mostly differ from the people who relate to attitudes towards transgender and bisexual individuals. People have different beliefs regarding the LGBT community. This is because they interact differently and for different reasons (Adamczyk & Pitt, 2009). These aspects make people develop certain traits and believe in a particular group of people in the community. This is the same perception that people have towards people of LGBT (Roggemans et al., 2015).

The negative attitudes towards individuals of LGBT are related to multiplicative and individual effects of political, feminism, beliefs, and religiosity. Some governments have created and formulated laws that approve same-sex relationships (Worthen et al., 2017). This is a significant milestone in achieving a harmonious society where people are allowed to practice what they want (Janssen & Scheepers, 2019). However, some nations are lagging on formulation laws that would enable same-sex relationships in their jurisdiction.

Conclusion

To sum up, same-sex relationships have been practiced since the time of Greece and the Roman empire. These communities approved such relations as the community was open and used to such practices. However, the church and the Muslim tradition condemn such practice as it goes against their teachings. This has resulted in adrift between religion and such groups in the community. Genetics and religion play a crucial role in homosexuality and how people and the community perceive it and how homosexual people interact with other people in the city. Genetics indicates that there some genes that make people homosexual; however, the genes cannot be used to predict an individual's sexuality. Some of the negative attitudes towards people of same-sex are driven by religion. This is because religious teachings are against any same-sex.

References

Worthen, M., Lingiardi, V., & Caristo, C. (2017). The Roles of Politics, Feminism, and Religion in Attitudes Toward LGBT Individuals: A Cross-Cultural Study of College Students in the USA, Italy, and Spain. Sexuality Research & Social Policy: Journal of NSRC, 14(3), 241. http://search.ebscohost.com.proxygsu-gamc.galileo.usg.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=124516826&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Adamczyk, A., & Pitt, C. (2009). Shaping attitudes about homosexuality: The role of religion and cultural context. Social Science Research, 38(2), 338-351. https://doi-org.proxygsu-gamc.galileo.usg.edu/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.01.002

Janssen, D.-J., & Scheepers, P. (2019). How Religiosity Shapes Rejection of Homosexuality Across the Globe. Journal of Homosexuality, 66(14), 1974. http://search.ebscohost.com.proxygsu-gamc.galileo.usg.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=139647393&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Roggemans, L., Spruyt, B., Droogenbroeck, F. V., & Keppens, G. (2015). Religion and negative attitudes towards homosexuals: An analysis of urban young people and their attitudes towards homosexuality. Young, 23(3), 254-276. https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308815586903