Homosexuality a disorder according to.......

[Dante]

Pentagon Lists Homosexuality as Disorder
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, AP





WASHINGTON (June 19) - A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

The document outlines retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities, and in a section on defects lists homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Critics said the reference underscores the Pentagon's failing policies on gays, and adds to a culture that has created uncertainty and insecurity around the treatment of homosexual service members, leading to anti-gay harassment.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jeremy M. Martin said the policy document is under review.

The Pentagon has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but requires discharges of those who openly acknowledge being gay.

The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, at the University of California at Santa Barbara, uncovered the document and pointed to it as further proof that the military deserves failing grades for its treatment of gays.

Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the center, said, "The policy reflects the department's continued misunderstanding of homosexuality and makes it more difficult for gays and lesbians to access mental health services."




The document, called a Defense Department Instruction, was condemned by medical professionals, members of Congress and other experts, including the American Psychiatric Association.

"It is disappointing that certain Department of Defense instructions include homosexuality as a 'mental disorder' more than 30 years after the mental health community recognized that such a classification was a mistake," said Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

Congress members noted that other Pentagon regulations dealing with mental health do not include homosexuality on any lists of psychological disorders. And in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday, nine lawmakers asked for a full review of all documents and policies to ensure they reflect that same standard.

"Based on scientific and medical evidence the APA declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 - a position shared by all other major health and mental health organizations based on their own review of the science," James H. Scully Jr., head of the psychiatric association, said in a letter to the Defense Department's top doctor earlier this month.

There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended last Sept. 30. That marked the first year since 2001 that the total had increased. The number of discharges had declined each year since it peaked at 1,227 in 2001, and had fallen to 653 in 2004.


06/19/06 18:48 EDT

[northskater110]

what an asswhole..........(sry 4 bad lingo, its true tho)

[redcar]

haha a mental disorder. there really are some seriously narrow minded people out there.

[what the?]

I'm not even sure what to say in response to that... I'm so glad I live in Great Britain.

[Dante]

I was shocked when i read this...especially since its coming from the center of amerocan defense

[serial-thrilla]

well what would you call homosexuality? a disease? disorder doesent seem like a rude way to put it.

[Elokyn]

it's not a freakin disorder, it's a preference...omg this country pisses me off sometimes.

[Zazu]

God, how bloody stupid is that.... (all i can really say)

[m_shell]

stupid people make me laugh.

[TheWizard]

OMG It makes me ashame to think that came from our government. baawaa

[redcar]

well what would you call homosexuality? a disease? disorder doesent seem like a rude way to put it.
homosexuality is not a disease, its not a disorder. and i think its a very rude way to put it.

[Whisper]

meh conservatives are like that
unfortunatly...

Steven Harper wants to make same sex marriage illigal in Canada again
hes going to put it to a free vote in parlament this fall

I can't honestly see it happening though
he dosent have enough power in a minority government

[Dante]

if these peopel ever took the time to talk to someone who is gay, they would cleary know it isnt a disorder or a choice.......when u say something has a disorder it is pretty much saying it is bad..and calling homesexuality bad, especially when it is something that people cannot control...pisses me off

[Bobby]

I'm not gay, but I think those people have a mental disorder.

[redcar]

I'm not gay, but I think those people have a mental disorder.
those people? dont call people who are gay those people. and for the record i may be gay but i most certainly do not have a mental disorder.

[Dante]

I'm not gay, but I think those people have a mental disorder.


That was just fucking rude

[Ryan_J]

it's not a freakin disorder, it's a preference...omg this country pisses me off sometimes.

I would HARDLY call it a preference. Preference denotes a choice. Personally, I would prefer to be statistically normal. Life would be easier, that's for sure. But I'm not. Whether it's genetic, hormonal, psychological or whatever the cause truly is...one thing is certain. It's not a preference. If I could choose to be straight, maybe I wouldn't be quite as messed up as I am with depression.

BUT, as for the other part about the Pentagon that is crap as well, and quite disturbing that such things are allowed to go on in the modern world. Calling it a disorder isn't quite right accurate, let me explain. To be classified as a disorder, there needs to be an abnormal condition (which homosexuality is), that causes a dysfunction or discomfort to the person affected (which it doesn't). The only negative effect on the affected person are those resulting from the behaviours of others, such as discrimination and abuse. Therefore, homosexuality can NOT be defined as a disorder or disease.

I suppose you could say that sexual attraction is an orientation, since that word doesn't have any connotation of defectiveness. Some people are gay. some people are BI, most people are straight. Some people might like peanut butter, pickle & egg sandwiches but who are we to say there's something "wrong" with that person for being different? Because our parents told us that kind of food doesn't go together?

Anyways sorry for the rant...I just feel very strongly on homosexual issues.

[Bobby]

Sorry Delete!!!

[Bobby]

First of all I'm referrring to the people who made the statement that "Gayness" is a mental disorder. I have nothing against gays

[Whisper]

That was just fucking rude

he was refuring to the government hun

[Dante]

oh ok, i get it......sorry

[Bobby]

It's okay. But really the government is so... so.... annoying.

[R&b_Boy]

to me..I really don't give a damn... i dun like the government any way so..they can say watever they want about it

[Bobby]

So your saying that they can be mean, rude, inconsiderate, and complete jerks to people who like the same gender????? hmm....

[R&b_Boy]

So your saying that they can be mean, rude, inconsiderate, and complete jerks to people who like the same gender????? hmm....

no..they don't have a right to do that but..the gov't is going to to be the gov't and it ain't nuthin u can do about that situation..so thats my opinion..plus to me they always had a bad vibe for homosexuallity anyway..so whats going to change? I'm just sick about all this talk about the gov't and homosexuality..go somewhere please!!

[serial-thrilla]

to me..I really don't give a damn... i dun like the government any way so..they can say watever they want about it you may not like bush but there are far worse leaders in the world who would cut your head off for speaking out against them.

[Charlotte]

Why the Pentagon? Is this even their concern :confused:?

[JunkBondTrader]

Pentagon Lists Homosexuality as Disorder
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, AP





WASHINGTON (June 19) - A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

The document outlines retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities, and in a section on defects lists homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Critics said the reference underscores the Pentagon's failing policies on gays, and adds to a culture that has created uncertainty and insecurity around the treatment of homosexual service members, leading to anti-gay harassment.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jeremy M. Martin said the policy document is under review.

The Pentagon has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but requires discharges of those who openly acknowledge being gay.

The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, at the University of California at Santa Barbara, uncovered the document and pointed to it as further proof that the military deserves failing grades for its treatment of gays.

Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the center, said, "The policy reflects the department's continued misunderstanding of homosexuality and makes it more difficult for gays and lesbians to access mental health services."




The document, called a Defense Department Instruction, was condemned by medical professionals, members of Congress and other experts, including the American Psychiatric Association.

"It is disappointing that certain Department of Defense instructions include homosexuality as a 'mental disorder' more than 30 years after the mental health community recognized that such a classification was a mistake," said Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

Congress members noted that other Pentagon regulations dealing with mental health do not include homosexuality on any lists of psychological disorders. And in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday, nine lawmakers asked for a full review of all documents and policies to ensure they reflect that same standard.

"Based on scientific and medical evidence the APA declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 - a position shared by all other major health and mental health organizations based on their own review of the science," James H. Scully Jr., head of the psychiatric association, said in a letter to the Defense Department's top doctor earlier this month.

There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended last Sept. 30. That marked the first year since 2001 that the total had increased. The number of discharges had declined each year since it peaked at 1,227 in 2001, and had fallen to 653 in 2004.


06/19/06 18:48 EDT
That's rediculous. Well, it comes as no surprise. Let's not forget their famous "gay bomb." :roll:

[MoveAlong]

AAAAH this kind of stuff makes me so mad >_< If being gay is a disorder, move the Gay Bar to the Psyciatric Ward and put me on heavy meds :angry:

[Shaolin]

Just to clear up some things - a mental disorder has to forfill the following criteria (for both the DSM-iV and ICD Classifications)...

*whacks out psychology textbook*

1. Statistical Infrequency - Straying away from the norm or average behaviours of the population (yes, homosexuality is as most people aren't gay)

2. Deviation from social norms - Not following the rules of society (this is debatable, many people may say its not a social norm to be gay, but others say its an acceptable socially to be gay - it really depends on who you talk to)

3. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - this ranges from things like having a postive self attitude to having an accurate perception of reality. Most gay people are mentally healthy in this respect, however some gay poeple like any straight person can clearly not be mentally healthy.

4. Failure to funciton adequately - This means, not being able to dress and clean yourself, being unemployed and not being able to financially support yourself. Some gay people may not be able to function adequately due to stigma ie they find it hard to get a job.

5. Cultural Relativism - Does it relate to the culture. It might be alright to be gay in one country, but not in another.


Therefore, according to the mental health community homosexuality is not a mental disorder - which was established in that news article. How the US government can deem homosexuality a mental disorder, when it's own mental health community doesn't (and they define what mental disorders are) is beggars belief.

[Physicist]

Just to clear up some things - a mental disorder has to forfill the following criteria (for both the DSM-iV and ICD Classifications)...

*whacks out psychology textbook*

1. Statistical Infrequency - Straying away from the norm or average behaviours of the population (yes, homosexuality is as most people aren't gay)

2. Deviation from social norms - Not following the rules of society (this is debatable, many people may say its not a social norm to be gay, but others say its an acceptable socially to be gay - it really depends on who you talk to)

3. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - this ranges from things like having a postive self attitude to having an accurate perception of reality. Most gay people are mentally healthy in this respect, however some gay poeple like any straight person can clearly not be mentally healthy.

4. Failure to funciton adequately - This means, not being able to dress and clean yourself, being unemployed and not being able to financially support yourself. Some gay people may not be able to function adequately due to stigma ie they find it hard to get a job.

5. Cultural Relativism - Does it relate to the culture. It might be alright to be gay in one country, but not in another.


Therefore, according to the mental health community homosexuality is not a mental disorder - which was established in that news article. How the US government can deem homosexuality a mental disorder, when it's own mental health community doesn't (and they define what mental disorders are) is beggars belief.
= win :clap: But I think this whole thing is an overreation. It's just a dated paper that they put it as a disorder for lack of a better word.

[check it]

yeah...just shows what happens when you get a bunch of redneck republicans in office:( :( :(

[xTheLordsServantx]

yea...im a moderate