Rapid Responses to:
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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Is homosexuality really an illness?
- Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich (16 April 2004)
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Is homosexuality a disease ??????????????
- srivatsa gopal vyasarayani (17 April 2004)
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Is homosexuality a choice?
- James S Dawson (19 April 2004)
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Does it matter?
- Hugo Van Bever (20 April 2004)
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Vive la différence !!!
- Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich (20 April 2004)
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Does it matter2?
- Van Bever Hugo (20 April 2004)
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Re: Is homosexuality a disease ??????????????
- Nadiah Parry (22 April 2004)
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Am I an outcast?
- Dawn Wyvern (12 June 2004)
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Homosexuality caused by maternal medication and environmental oestrogens?
- Ellen C G Grant (14 June 2004)
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Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich, Private Practice Bribie Island, Australia 4507
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Kicking and screaming will not convince me that being a "poofter" is a disease. Alcoholism may also be a disease. Well, in my humble opinion and, at the risk of offending a few friends who are confirmed "homos", I vigorously object to the classification of "if in doubt give it a name"(of a newly coined disease). Not wanting to go into the historic origins I just needed to make one point: In this life you do have a choice. You can choose to eat snails,raw pork or mouse tail in jelly. But, when you enjoy this freedom, do not be alarmed if someone puts a label on you. All the answers about gender idiosyncrasies are not in. But a stigma remains a stigma, no matter how small or infrequent. Generations pass. Future warriors ride horses who may have an interest in horses of the same sex. Disease is the disturbances of healthy function in the presence of obvious health. Homosexuality is neither the carrot nor the stick. Competing interests: None declared |
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srivatsa gopal vyasarayani, P.G Registrar, Dept of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore
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Sir, My experience in handling deviant sexual orientation is limited to one or two cases under supervision. However, this is what I have to say. Homosexuality was taken off DSM when it was in its II revision. This is a lifestyle choice just like alcohol and other substance use / dependance. Only when it causes significant distress to the individual-- it becomes a disease----Ego Dystonic Sexual Orientation. I also understand the social implications of homosexuality and the resultant medical, social complications. As psychiatrists, it is our prime duty not to LABEL ANYBODY. We should treat only when it becomes distressing and the person asks for help. We have every right to ask parents to leave their children alone IF THERE ARE NO COMPLICATIONS. If there are complications in the form of promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases, treatment for homosexuality should be instituted only if the individual is interested in change. If referred to by the legal system, the same clause can be used. Our first responsibility is towards the patient and not to the family or the referring authorities. However, as in treatment of other psychiatric conditions, these are only CLINICAL GUIDELINES AND NOT RULES BY WHICH EVERY PSYCHIATRIST SHOULD SWEAR BY. Competing interests: None declared |
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James S Dawson, Senior House Officer, Critical Care Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham
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Nehrlich writes an interesting response, but I just wonder how much ones sexuality is a life choice? Do heterosexual people have a big decision to make over should they be attracted to, and date opposite sex partners, or same sex partners? I think not. It is an intrinsic part of them. In the same sense, homosexuality is intrinsic for gay people, even though it makes no evolutionary sense. Being gay myself, I am quite happy with being labelled 'gay', but it is the social inequalities which accompany this I find frustrating. Competing interests: I am gay |
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Hugo Van Bever, Professor Singapore
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Dr Herbert Nehrlich writes that in his humble opinion… etc… Thank God…, the dear collegue uses “humble”. Other adjectives, including “narrow” or “uninformed”, could have been used also… Than, the very dear collegue continues his opinion with “… You can choose to eat snails,raw pork or mouse tail in jelly. But, when you enjoy this freedom…”. Amazing for a doctor! And certainly a rather terryfing expression of ignorance and wrong perception. Being gay or straight has nothing to do with decision. It is a feature. A simple intrinsic feature which can not be changed or switched off. It is even suggested that God himself, was unable to choose. You did not know? Any scientific proof that Jezus Christ was straight? And, by the way, does it matter? I also had a lot of fun (a lot…) with the (bad) homophobic text of David Barnes (retired). Amazing what people are allowed to share and publish… The level of wisdom, reflecting to God. Just to inform Dr. Barnes that ‘f****** into s***’ is not a gay feature. It is even more common among straights. However, I can not give you the scientific evidence for it. The issue is very difficult to study, applying a double-blind study design. But, again, does it matter? Amazing how doctors have not changed and how lessons from the past are ignored… For some, being gay seems worse than invading Iraq… Competing interests: None declared |
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Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich, Private Practice Bribie Island, Australia 4507
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The good professor from Singapore makes some pertinent... revelations. Yes, we certainly ought to be entitled to our individual opinions even though the Professor appears reluctant to concede that. From the tone of the letter I get the distinct impression that the author may very well be gay and that he felt that someone had stepped on his toes. Whether one calls homosexuality an illness, a dis-ease or an affliction makes little difference . People who are born with blue eyes, red hair and big noses aren't ill. And my point was that homosexuality is not an illness. The good professor also poses the intriguing question: "What difference does it make?" The short answer to that question would be: "An enormous difference." Competing interests: None declared |
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Van Bever Hugo, Professor Singapore
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Of course, I am gay, but only on Christmas eve… and on rainy days. Yes, I feel a bit sad by this reaction, especially by the answer “an enormous difference”. Even “good professors” can feel that way. Surprised? As long as there are people making that kind of differences, there will be problems. Persistent problems, "déjà vu" problems… "deja vecu" problems. Problems between black and white, moslim and jew, etc… The only important difference might be between "good" and "bad". To teach our children… trying to improve our mentality, our respect, and all the rest really does not matter. Fortunately, many gay people think that way, even more, their reaction to those discriminative attitudes (including from doctors!... suppose to be care givers?) is "proud to be gay" which does not matter either. Or "proud to be straight" , being part of that huge majority? So easy… being part of that large army? Actually, I don’t care… I have to. To protect myself! Gay or not… it really doesn't matter. Competing interests: None declared |
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Nadiah Parry, Medical Student Leeds University (LS2 9JT)
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This is a response to a letter posted by Srivatsa Gopal Vyasarayani. I am quite disgusted to see a passage in your letter reading 'deviant sexual orientation'. What is that supposed to imply exactly? Correct me if I am wrong but I imagine that you were referring to one sexual orientation, of which people may deviate from. It is obvious, if not normative, that there is more than one sexual orientation. I think your statement reflects a profoundly heterosexist attitude. How do you also draw a similarity between homosexuals and alcoholism, in terms of dependence? Would you refer to heterosexuals in the same way? I don't really understand why you have chosen to do this. I am a heterosexual woman therefore, under your analogy; I am emotionally or physically dependent on men? Dependence- meaning a lack of independence or self-sufficiency or, being abnormally dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. Under that definition therefore finding a boyfriend would be catering a habit. What I also don't understand is why you use the example of alcohol or other substances that are potentially harmful when talking about homosexual dependency. Men are potentially harmful as are women. What exactly are you saying? If what you were implying is true, then there is one sexual orientation and deviants can be treated, maybe cured. Cured meaning they do not want to sleep with people of the same sex? Why is that a cure? How is deviation from ‘the sexual orientation’ a deviation from health? Perhaps you are concerned because some of your patients are depressed, the pathogenesis of their illness you have cleverly narrowed down to their sexual orientation. To me this idea is entirely stupid. I could understand if their sexual orientation involved sleeping with some kind of aggressive beast such as a lion or hyena. The suffering and anxiety some homosexuals are experiencing, hence requiring ‘treatment’ is directly associated with peoples heterosexism. They are not accepted. I can imagine the following scenario must be quite a regular occurrence in your consultation room: “I am going to treat my patient who deviates from the norm. He is anxious/ depressed because some members of society do not accept his sexual orientation. I will therefore treat his sexual deviance. “ You could argue this is like changing a persons’ skin colour or providing cosmetic surgery to treat an anxious non- white patient. The patient is distressed because the majority of people around them are white and also racist. They do not accept the patient as an individual, therefore the patient is accordingly facing difficulty accepting who they are. Perhaps a cure would be educating society to understand and accept differences in ethnicity or sexual orientations, enabling the patient to understand and accept his/herself. As a doctor it is not feasible that I will be able to perform this task. However I could certainly support my patient, make it clear that I accept them and provide council so they can understand and accept themselves. Accordingly they can go on to help others i.e. friends and family, do the same. Competing interests: None declared |
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Dawn Wyvern, Occupational Nurse Scotland AB12 3LG
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Dear Learned Colleges, In these days when diversity is promoted world wide, I was saddened to see that homosexual people (both male and female) still being referred to as an ‘illness’ in a professional site, and the original mention of transvestites being outcasts seemed to have been all but forgotten… I have been a very happy and well adjusted transvestite all my life and feel that we are generally viewed by the medical profession as seekers of some kind of fetishist outlet. I am not looking for a ‘cure’ or to be ‘analysed’ as my lifestyle is enjoyable and satisfying. (To quote a line from a song written for La Cage et Follies, I Am What I Am….). However I and most of the transvestites, transsexuals and intersexed people I know have similar feelings as those described by previous authors in that we all belive what we feel is a very strong part of our make up – as with our eye and hair colour … - we didn’t ask or choose our makeup – but we have to deal with it on a daily basis all of our lives. The stereotype transvestite is a heterosexual male, normally married and in a stable relationship, with children, with a compelling need to cross dress that overrides all logical behaviour for a husband and father figure. When this becomes an issue the medical profession steps in and offers ECT, various medications and psychotherapy in an attempt to ‘cure’ the individual. At best this only goes to re-enforce the client’s guilt and self repulse of the urge to cross dress, resulting in the 'urge' only laying dorment for a short time. I would advocate a more accepting and understanding approach as is now the norm for homosexual individuals, which will help overcome the stigma attached to transvestites. So – the initial comment was ‘Treating homosexuality as a sickness: Transvestites might be the new outcasts’ I feel that this is not the case as I believe the medical profession ad socity has always treated Transvestites as outcasts … but we are still here! Maybe now is the time to let us back in to the fold. Best wishes Dawn Wyvern Competing interests: Transvestite and Transgender representitive to RCN OUT LGBT group |
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Ellen C G Grant, physician and medical gynaecologist 20 Coombe Ridings, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 7JU
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There may not be any medical treatments that can cure homosexuality1 but medical treatments to women may have increased the incidence of homosexuality among their children. Maternal hormonal exposures before or during early pregnancy can alter normal sexual development. Evolutionary change from asexual to bisexual reproduction required complicated circulating hormonal interactions. Irrespective of the chromosomal sex of a foetus, inappropriate hormonal influences during early foetal life can alter brain development and change the sexual orientation of both animals and humans. Environmental oestrogenic pesticides are credited with lowering sperm counts. Mouldy grains contain mycotoxins which are also oestrogenic. The work of Regina Schoental has emphasised the effects of excessive exogenous hormone exposures on behaviour throughout history. 2,3 The use of hormones, in the form of contraceptives or fertility drugs has increased over the past century. Exogenous hormones are stored in maternal fat and therefore may affect foetal development months after the mother has stopped taking hormones. Clearly no fault lies with the affected child, but the medical profession needs to rethink the full consequences of prescribing ever more hormones to younger and younger women. Use of long-acting implanted progesterones is a callous and dangerous method of contraception. The health of future children should be a priority in sex education programmes. 1 Lovitt CJ. Treating homosexuality as a sickness. BMJ 2004;328:955 (17 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7445.955 2 Schoental R. Fusarial mycotoxins and behaviour: possible implications for psychiatric disorder. Br J Psychiatry. 1985; 146: 115-9. 3 Schoental R. Mycotoxins, porphyrias and the decline of the Etruscans.J Appl Toxicol. 1991; 11(6): 453-4. Competing interests: None declared |
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