Why is it more acceptable to be gay than it is to be mentally ill?

Question

The media falls all over itself when a star gets "outed", and you see gay people flaunt their lifestyle all over the place, but if a star shows one little sign of a mental illness,you never hear from them again. What's your views on this?

Answer 1

I think that the person answering this question is addressing the issue of stigma. Both homosexuality and mental illness are stigmatized, and a person can't help their sexual orientation any more than they can stop their mental illness.

I think the stigma is about the same. Conservative people really dislike homosexuals, but the general public is uncomfortable regarding mental illness.

I think a lot of gay people are able to have a thick skin and get out there and try to reduce stigma. If a person has a mental illness, on the other hand, they are already suffering terribly and have a thin skin and are therefore less able to handle public and private criticism. So they hide their illness.

Answer 2

The fact the the media falls all over itself when a star is outed is a sign of how little gays are accepted by some people, not how much.

And symptoms of mental illness don't keep stars out of the spotlight as far as I can tell.

Answer 3

Personally I accept both equally, as neither chose to be that way, they just are.

Sadly there is still a lot of stigma and ignorance related to both. In recent years homosexuality has been so much in the spotlight that people now know more about it and are a bit more used to it than before, so it is becoming more accepted by people. Maybe if the same was done about mental illnesses people would be less ignorant and mentally ill people would be more accepted in society.

Answer 4

I think the media attention that stars get when they are outed is because it's about sex, and people are titillated by that so it sells magazines. Mental illness still has a stigma attached to it - so it's (unfortunately) a topic that some people avoid. (Although the media also love stories about drug addicted people, so addiction is clearly an exception). I think, though, that if the media did focus as much attention on mental illness as sexuality, people would also feel uncomfortable and say "Leave him/her alone".

Answer 5

My perception is that this simply isn't true. If it were, however, what is wrong with "flaunting" your lifestyle? You don't flaunt yours? I think you do. You are doing it right now.

That said, I think that a lot of celebrities have mental illnesses, and many of them take control of it and do what they can to get help. There are actually a LOT of famous people who have done just this and they are still around. Larry King is a good example, having openly battled depression for years. Owen Wilson just had a suicide attempt, and he has not disappeared and is seeking treatment. Uma Thurman and Ashley Judd have been very vocal and honest about their own problems with mental illness.

Sounds to me like you're just looking for an excuse to bash gays.

Answer 6

acceptable? what planet are you from?
if someone is mentally ill you should feel sorry that it has happened to them and hope they recover quickly. As for being gay, that is totally irrelevant. I dont care who someone chooses to sleep with.

Answer 7

It's apples and oranges. I don't see the connection. Homosexualty is not classified as a mental illness, so there is no basis for a comparison.

Answer 8

Your comparing the two is ridicules. I hope, no I pray no one you love today is Gay, not becomes mentally ill. You have not clue how this question comes across, you have no clue.

Answer 9

Personally I would rather be dragged off to the local loony farm than be a shirt lifter, if anyone disagrees with my interpretation of a homosexual then tough shi t.

Answer 10

id rather be mentally ill than be gay. i find that totally unacceptable. being gay is a very bad choice.