Homosexuality
Homosexuality is a sexual orientation found in humans, bonobos,[1] dolphins[2] and other vertebrate species. In general, homosexuality is described as a sexual attraction towards a member of one's own gender.
Biblical Views on Homosexuality
In the book of Leviticus (18:22) of the King James Version of the Bible is found the following verse:
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
This has been interpreted by many to be a condemnation of homosexual activity, but due to mistranslations and other errors may instead refer to the use of sexual to gain dominion over others and not to consenting and loving relationships between couples of the same sex.
Another passage often cited as a Biblical prohibition of homosexuality is Romans 1:26-27:
- For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
- And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Homosexuality and Marriage
The American Psychiatric Association de-listed homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973.[2] Since that time, homosexuals have advocated for recognition of their civil rights and for equal protection under the law.
Legal marriage between same-sex couples is now recognized in several European nations as well as in Canada, South Africa and Massachusetts. In some other states such as Connecticut a more limited recognition of same-sex relationships is available, called a "civil union". Many other states have passed constitutional amendments banning recognition of same-sex marriages performed anywhere and some groups have pushed for Constitutional amendment barring the legal recognition of same-sex marriages.
References
- ↑ Parker, Sue Taylor,Robert W. Mitchell, H. Lyn Miles (1999), The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans: comparative perspectives. Cambridge University Press. p. 54
- ↑ Smith, Dinitia (2004), "Central Park Zoo's gay penguins ignite debate," The New York Times, Saturday, February 7, 2004, as published on the San Francisco Chronicle website[1]: "Bonobos, apes closely related to humans, are wildly energetic sexually. Studies show that whether observed in the wild or in captivity, nearly all are bisexual and nearly half their sexual interactions are with the same sex... 10 to 15 percent of female western gulls in some populations in the wild are homosexual... male and female bottlenose dolphins frequently engage in homosexual activity, both in captivity and in the wild"