LGBTQ Pride Month: 5 Stereotypes We Need to Stop Associating With Homosexuality

Aren't we all guilty of judging our fellow people of the LGBTQ community at some point? That happens due to the various influences on us of popular culture like films and television that portray them in a certain way. Though now people in general are becoming more sensitive to and accommodating of LGBTQ but still many of us associate the community with certain stereotypes. Every year, June is celebrated as LGBTQ Pride Month, which first started in the United states and has now spread across the world. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, each one is associated with particular prejudices. In the light of the celebration of pride month, and creating awareness about LGBTQ community here are 5 notions associated with homosexuality that are nothing but stereotypes -

It Is a Medical Condition

A lot of people commonly believe that being attracted to a person from the same sex is a medical condition. Here's a myth buster -- being gay is absolutely normal. No medical condition influences a person's sexuality. Medically, homosexuality is not considered an abnormality. A convention in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), all the attending members voted against homosexuality being a mental disorder. Also 5,854 psychiatrists also voted to remove homosexuality from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). And in 1974, homosexuality was removed from DSM as a category of disorder.

Against Natural Order

There is also a prevalent belief that social or psychological factors can "convert" a heterosexual person and turn him gay. There's also the belief that homosexuality is against nature. Both notions are wrong. Being gay is natural and not a lifestyle or choice. Homosexuality is also considered to be against natural order because gay and lesbian couples cannot procreate naturally. But they can always adopt or opt for surrogacy if they want to rear children. Also, if  homosexuality is against nature, how is it that animals like black swans, penguins, monkeys and dolphins exhibit homosexual traits?If homosexuality is present in nature, and definitely not against the natural order.

Association With Particular Colours

A certain set of colours are associated with gay men. For instance, homosexual men are most stereotypically represented as wearing pink, in popular culture. It is not so. Associating gay people with particular colours is only a way to typecast them. Some of them may like to dress up in a certain way, but that isn't a norm. Gay men and women are as normal as regular people and have no particular affiliation to any colour whatsoever. Also, the only pink associated with the homosexuality was during the Nazi concentration camps where homosexual inmates were forced to wear downward-pointing pink triangular badges. Today, LGBT activists have reclaimed the symbol with an upward-pointing triangle in hot pink.

Gay Men Are Weak

Gay men are often also associated as being weaker than heterosexual men. But a gay man's strength has noting to do with his sexual orientation. Being gay is not a sign of someone's physical strength.  In fact Brain Anderson (Skateboading), Jason Collins (Basketball), Scott Cranham (Diver), Jenny Allard (Softball) and Alyson Annan (Field Hockey) are some popular homosexual sportsmen and women who have exhibited exceptional strength and power in various sports.

Gay Men Are Effeminate, Lesbian Are Tomboys

Like their physical strength, their overall personality and conduct is also stereotyped. In in films etc, a gay man is often depicted as one who is effeminate and a lesbian as a tomboy. Though this is only a wrong interpretation of them. A person's sexual orientation in no way defines their characteristics or behavioral traits.

These myths about homosexuality don't have any logical or scientific backing. Some of these have also stemmed from the purpose of creating a general fear and hatred for the LGBTQ community. They deserve as much respect and love as anyone else and not be judged for just being.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2018 02:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).