Nonfiction book: Opposing Viewpoints: Homosexuality

My book is split up in 4 chapters so I will give you a description of each chapter.

Chapter one focuses on the Question; “What are the origins of homosexuality?” As the title of the book says, these chapters have multiple viewpoints on the proposed question in the form of an essay or sub-chapter. The viewpoints in chapter one are if homosexuality is biologically determined or not, if homosexuals can change their sexual orientation, if homosexuality is a legitimate choice, if homosexuality is a psychological disorder, and if homosexuality is caused by societal dysfunction.

Chapter two poses the question “Should society encourage increased acceptance of homosexuality?” The viewpoints in this chapter are; should society accept homosexuality or not, should schools stress acceptance of homosexuality or not, hate crime laws are needed to protect gays and lesbians or would it prove ineffective, if criticism of homosexuality leads to violence toward gays and lesbians or if criticism is not wrong.

Chapter three asks “Is homosexuality immoral?” Here are the viewpoints for this chapter; if Homosexual behavior is immoral, if homosexual behavior is not immoral, if the bible condemns homosexuality, if the bible does not necessarily condemn homosexuality. This chapter is short but full of information.

Chapter four asks the question “Should society sanction gay and lesbian families?” the viewpoints in chapter four are; if homosexuals should be allowed to marry, or they should not be allowed to marry, if a federal amendment is necessary to protect marriage, if a federal amendment would undermine states’ rights, if homosexuals should have greater parental rights, and if gay and lesbian parenting may not be beneficial.

3 Important Passages:

1.)    “At least three answers seem possible. The first, the answer of tradition, is as follows: homosexual behavior is a bad habit that people fall into because they are sexually permissive and experimental. This view holds that the homosexuals choose their lifestyle as the result of self-indulgence and unwillingness to play by society rules. The second position is held by a number of psychoanalysts. According to them, homosexual behavior is a mental illness, symptomatic of arrested development. They believe that homosexuals have unnatural or perverse desires as a consequence of poor familial relations in childhood or some other trauma. The third view is “biological” and holds that such desires are genetic or hormonal in origin, and that there is no choice involved and no “childhood trauma” necessary. (pg. 28)

2.)    “Anti-LGBT slurs have become the insult of choice whether the targeted student is in fact LGBT, perceived to be, or heterosexual. A host of recent studies affirm this fact, demonstrate the pervasiveness of anti-LGBT slurs in schools, and confirm the power of words to wound: 88% of the 1,000 students interviewed in a 2001 national phone survey conducted by Hamilton college reported having heard classmates use “gay” as a derogatory term. 4 out of 5 students in the 1999 safe schools coalition survey who said that they had experienced anti-LGBT harassment (80%) identified as heterosexual. According to Hostile Hallways: Bullying, Teasing, and Sexual Harassment in School, a 2001 study conducted by the American association of University of Women (AAUW), 73% of students would be “very upset” if someone said they were gay or lesbian. Among boys, no other type of sexual harassment, including physical abuse, provoked so strong a reaction.”

3.)    “Across America more gay and lesbian people are refusing to live their lives in the shadows. But the increased honesty and visibility that has led to more fulfilling and productive lives for millions of people has been accompanied by a backlash. Most striking about hate crimes is the ferocity and ruthlessness involved in the assaults. A survey by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reports that in antigay hate crimes in 1998, guns used during assaults grew 71 percent; ropes and restraints, 133 percent, vehicles, 150 percent; and blunt objects, clubs and bats, 47 percent.”

5 thought provoking questions:

1.      Is being homosexual a choice or are you born that way?

2.      Should LGBT couples be allowed to adopt?

3.      Does the bible really say that being homosexual is immoral?

4.      Should Society as a whole accept the LGBT community and include it in all of life’s little matters?

5.      Should “coming out” be a huge deal in this day and age or should it still be a huge event in someone’s life?

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This book has guided my project in the direction of having equality and tolerance for the LGBT community in Wisconsin and Eau Claire.  This books fits into my project because it does focus on all of the important viewpoints of my topic. 

Citation:

Ojeda, Auriana. Homosexuality : Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2004. Print.