ABSTRACT

DefinitionsBefore introducing the biology of sexual orientation, let us look at some pertinent facts and definitions.

HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A MENTAL DISORDER OR DISEASE

One of the most important things to know about homosexuality is that it is not a mental disorder or disease. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its official Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, signifying the end to its official classification as a mental disorder or disease. It might be helpful here to specifically define what we mean by disease. A disease is defined in Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary as “a condition of the living animal body, or of one of its parts that impairs the performance of a vital function.” A vital function is one required to sustain the life of the individual. Homosexuality does not impair any human vital function, and thus, in this sense also, it is not a disease.