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In recent years homosexuals (especially men) have had to battle through
the difficulties associated with the discovery of HIV and the AIDS virus.
Initially AIDS was seen as a 'gay plague' (as it was only found among
gay men). But as more heterosexual people became infected AIDS
is now seen not merely as a 'gay problem' but as a global
concern. An AIDS epidemic is something that should concern us all.
Whether we accept homosexual behavior as normal will depend on a
number of factors. First, it depends on our family and upbringing.
If we have been exposed to homophobic attitudes then it is likely
(although not certain) that we will be homophobic as well. Religion
also plays a large part and can have a dramatic effect on our
morals, values and ethics. Another factor is whether we
have been exposed to homosexual behavior. If we have had
a bad homosexual encounter this may lead us
to see homosexuality (and homosexuals) as perverted.
However, a positive encounter could lead one to embrace homosexual
values and way of life. All these factors have an influence on whether we
see homosexuality as 'normal' or not. Thus homosexual practice
seems to be assessed primarily in the light of our presuppositions
concerning homosexual behavior.
The outcome of this is that many people do not believe homosexual behavior
to be the issue but people's attitudes. One's acceptance or
rejection of homosexual behavior seems to have little to do
with the homosexual 'act' itself but how we feel
about such 'activity'. Despite the fact that homosexual
reproduction is not normal as far as evolution and our genetics
is concerned it does seem
to be normal when it comes to people living honestly as the person they
believe they are. On this basis many people believe it to
be wrong to deny homosexuals this right.
It also seen as wrong to deny them the right to express
this in physical ways. Thus it seems homosexuals
do not want the world to be gay but they
do want people to be more accepting
of them for who they are. Is there anything abnormal with that?
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