2006-10-07 11:30:01 · 10 answers · asked by markin.gomez 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
There are religious and secular organizations which sponsor campaigns and studies suggesting that GLBT people can change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their assertions assume that there is something wrong with being GLBT - the largest problem is, in fact, society's intolerance of difference. PFLAG believes that it is our anti-GLBT attitudes, laws and policies that need to change, not our GLBT loved ones.
Many of the studies and campaigns suggesting that GLBT people can change are based on ideological biases rather than solid science. Claims of conversion from gay to straight tend to be poorly documented, full of flawed research with a lack of follow-up. No studies show proven long-term changes in gay or transgender people, and many reported changes are based solely on behavior and not a person's actual self-identity. The American Psychological Association has stated that scientific evidence shows that reparative therapy (therapy which claims to change GLBT people) does not work and that it can do more harm than good. More on "reparative therapy."
2006-10-07 11:33:16 · answer #1 · answered by Markin Gomez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they cannot.
There are certain religious groups claiming that this is possible through therapy and counselling, but if you take a closer look, you will note these:
1) Most of the 'cured' , or 'ex-gay' people live celibate lives. If you look at what they have to say, you will find that all of them say stuff like "I fight with it every day". One guy had said "I don't think about men anymore...except when I masturbate."
2) One tactic they do is to make these people's life interesting in other areas so that they can focus on their sexual desires less and less. So they're main attempt is to make sure that the guy does't have a sex life.
3) A closer look at most of their avertisements will reveal that in no where do they explicitly say they can make a homosexual into a heterosexual. If they do, then they define a homosexual as a person who lives 'the gay lifestyle'.
The danger in this is that they teach that homosexuality is sinful and that they will go to hell, driving gays to self-loathing and even suicide.
No one has so far been able to make a gay man interested in women.
About gender identity:
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I'm guessing that you imply that gay people have a gender identity problem, that is, they think they are women.
Gay people do not have a gender identity problem. The people who have such a problem are transgenders. They usually change their sex through surgery.
Gay men have no desire to be women. If they did, there would be many transgenders and so few gays, but it is the other way around.
Then you may ask "Then why are gay people effeminate?"
1) The media portraits gay men as affeminate so the idea is ingrained to us. You'll be amazed if you realize how much of our way of thinking is based on what we see on media. Go to a gay bar to see if this is true.
2) Gay people vary from feminine to masculine just like straight people. Effemiate gay people are attacked by society at an early age, so they come out more. ( This also means lots of straight guys who are effeminate get labeled as gay ) Majority of the gay people are not effeminate, and so they can pass off as straight people in society. They are everywhere around you, some dating girls to pretend they are stright, some even married. Go to a gay bar and you'll think "Where are they all hiding during the day?"
Lastly, gay people do not want to be straight, except for a few who are under family or religious pressure. Gay people love being gay.
2006-10-07 18:58:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why would they want to. Can straight people change theirs? There are cases where gay people have "changed to straight" usually under pressure from religions or family. They use these cases to show that it can be done and of course it can be done. We could change to having no sex at all or to doing it with dogs, but would the person be as happy? People should do what makes them happy as long as no one else is hurt.
2006-10-07 11:35:14 · answer #3 · answered by irongrama 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Can straight people change their sexual orientation? What a question!!
2006-10-08 01:18:50 · answer #4 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think of you do your study with reference to the surgical technique and look ahead to somewhat to make useful it is not a piece. it may suck to get the surgical technique and be like, "Oh wait, i prefer to be a woman lower back." you understand what I mean? i've got heard thoughts like yours in the previous and there's a attractiveness for it. i'm unable to think of of it genuine now. yet i think of that in case you nevertheless sense such as you're interior the incorrect physique, you should make the replace! good success!
2016-11-26 23:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't believe that they can. If they could, instead of continuing to base our marriage on a lie, and letting it fail, I believe my ex, who turned out to be a closeted homosexual, would have changed and saved it.
While that experience hurt, I don't think it is possible or just to try to make them change.
2006-10-07 11:37:07 · answer #6 · answered by catintrepid 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, that's purely a religious psycho thought.
2006-10-07 12:00:36 · answer #7 · answered by boobooshurt 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no. but they can choose who they have sex with, just not who they are. if you're hetero, Gay, Bi, transgender, then you're stuck with that.
2006-10-07 12:36:14 · answer #8 · answered by mystic_lonewolf22 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, through the right professional counseling, and therapy,
2006-10-07 11:39:49 · answer #9 · answered by crazylarry88 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is all up to them
2006-10-07 11:33:33 · answer #10 · answered by Pauly W 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋