Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?

~ Pulitzer Prize nominated author Ernest Gaines

Human sexuality is complex 1. There is an acknowledged distinction between the desire, behavior and identity which
is results in multi dimensional expression of the human sexuality. These dimensions may not always be congruent
for all individuals. The terms sexual orientation and gender identity are closely linked yet they are distinct and each
one of us has both. An individuals sexual orientation has come to mean their orientation with regard to choice of
sex of partner for sexual activity and long-term emotional-sexual couple relationships. Sexual orientations include
heterosexual (women who are attracted to men, and men who are attracted to women), bisexual (women who
are attracted to both sexes, men who are attracted to both sexes), lesbian (women who are attracted to women),
and gay (men who are attracted to men). On the other hand Gender identity coveys differently from sexual
orientation. Gender identity refer is not merely if an individual is perceived as a male or a female but also the
conformity or non-conformity between their biological or birth sex, and on the other hand, their psychological sex
and the way they express it through physical characteristics. If a person realizes that their state of psychological
gender is conflicting within their physical sex then they are generally referred to as transgender or transsexual.
Intersex is a term used for a person who owing to their chromosomal pattern, gonads or genitals cannot be identified
clearly as either a male or a female. The modern era argues these expressions as the LGBT persons and they are
often described as the sex discrimination minorities. 2
Homosexual behavior is ubiquitous throughout the globe, regardless of the laws against such practices.
Homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectionate, or romantic
attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same sex. "It also refers to an individual's sense of personal and
social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who
share them.3 Homosexuality often was viewed as a degenerative sickness; a disorder that many claimed could be
cured and a stigma that left homosexuals marked forever. It was not until 1973, that the American Psychiatric
Association officially removed homosexuality from the list of disorders. Much later in 1992, the World Health
Organization accepted its normal variant status.4
In a pluralistic country like ours, homosexuality is not only a taboo but also an offence. Prior to the notions of
biblican morality introduced in india the Indian society was tolerant towards homosexuality.

1 DrescherJ. Byne WM. Homosexuality Gay and lesbian identities and homosexual
behavior, Kaplan and sadocks comprehensive textbooks by anticipatory avoidance
conditioning technique, Indian j psychiatry 1979, 21:146-8
2

R. Wintemute, Recognising New Kinds of Direct Sex Discrimination: Transsexualism, Sexual Orientation and Dress
Codes, (1997) 60 Modern Law Review 334

3 Sexual Orientation, Homosexuality, and Bisexuality", available at APAHelpCenter.org, retrieved on 19th

December, 2013

4 TS Sathyanarayana rao and KS Jacob, Homosexuality and India, Vol 54 Issue 1,

January-March 2012 , Indian Journal of Psychiatry, P-1