How does the gay community view itself in society vs. how others around them view it?

I'm an rn working on my masters as a nurse practitioner and am interested in research and publishing. I'm interested in conducting surveys and funding research projects eventually. I think the question is relevant to the study on the argument of the origin of homosexuality. I have a personal interest in this subject partially because I married into a Christian family and my big brother is gay. Nuff said.

How does the gay community view itself in society vs. how others around them view it?
How does one's self view vs societal view have anything to do with the origin of homosexuality? As stated above, there is no single viewpoint that binds the GLBT "community". Heteros do not lump themselves with ALL straight people and call themselves the "straight community". The reason for this is because every human is an individual. The only thing I have in common with the GLBT "community" is my sexuality. Just like you, I identify with others who share my interests and are interesting to be around. I think you can find a tremendous amount of information about how some Americans in society view homosexuality, just as you can about some in European society. However, no matter where you gather your information, it is not a single viewpoint. therefore I cannot tell you how other GLBT people view themselves, only what I know from my own experience.





On the "argument of the origin of homosexuality", it would be wise to seek scientific reports and journals in order to find conclusive evidence of a scientific origin vs using opinions, which are as varied as the number of people who respond. Many religions, as yoy may be aware are scurrilous in how they define and treat homosexuality. However, Psychiatrists, psychologists and physicians have a consensus that being gay is a variation of healthy sexualty. To quote "empirical evidence and professional norms do not support the idea that homosexuality is a form of mental illness or is inherently linked to psychopathology"(source). I would focus my researh either on opinions of homosexuality or on scientific data that underscores conclusive evidence on its suspected origins.
Reply:First things first. There is no "gay community." There are gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people, just as there are heterosexual people. To lump every GLBT person into one group and suggest there is one common worldview would only give you faulty research. That's like me saying all heterosexuals view the GLBT population in the same way.





Your question can have no factual or honest answer because it requires generalization and prejudice to answer either part of it.





I'd look idiotic if I assumed every gay man, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered person thought the same way. And I'd look equally idiotic if I thought every heterosexual thought the same way.





About the only thing safe to assume is that many GLBT people are very self-accepting and others are not. But the same can be said of heterosexuals, too.





I don't get how this relates to any "argument of the origin of homosexuality." Huh? What argument?





Two homosexuals met, got aroused, got together and that was it.





That aside...I will tell you my own personal perception of things. I think that most homosexuals have been taught and trained to feel as though we are "less than" our heterosexual counterparts simply because there are far more of you than there are of us. But I also believe that if you look at history, it's clear that heterosexuals are responsible for most of the suffering this world has ever seen.





I think heterosexuals are the ones who need help...not us.
Reply:Hmm... I don't know that we're supposed to "feel" anything.





In fact, the only time I "notice" that I'm bisexual is when someone implies that it's wrong. If people would just stop trying to tell me to whom I can and cannot be attracted, there wouldn't be such a division in our society.





Honestly, we just want to live a life of love and kindness.
Reply:The origin ? The other night while watching pbs television it talked about the brain of a man homosexual being wired like a womans brain. It was very interesting.