Homosexuality - By Jub We Talk India's first lgbt podcast
1. HOMOSEXUALI
TY
By- Jub We Talk – India’s First LGBT
Podcast
www.Jubwetalk.in
“Some men like Jack/ and some like Jill;
/ I’m glad I like them both;
but still…/ In the strict ranks/ of Gay and Straight/
What is my status?/ Stray? or Great?” …….
2. Sex and Gender
Sex :
Sex is something one is born with.
An organism's sex is defined by the
gametes it produces: males produce
male gametes (spermatozoa, or sperm)
while females produce female gametes
(ova, or egg cells)
1) male
2) female
3) True hermaphrodites (have testes
and ovaries)
4) Male pseudohermaphrodites (have
testes, some aspects of female
genetalia)
5) Female pseudohermaphrodites
(have ovaries, some aspects of male
genetalia)
All societies have a set of gender
categories that can serve as the basis
of the formation of a social identity in
relation to other members of society. In
most societies, there is a basic division
between gender attributes assigned to
males and females. In all societies,
however, some individuals do not
identify with some (or all) of the aspects
of gender that are assigned to their
biological sex.
Gender:
3. Human Sexuality :
Human sexuality can also refer to
the way someone is sexually
attracted to another person - which
is determined by their sexual
orientation - whether it is to the
opposite sex (he te ro se xuality), to
the same sex (ho m o se xuality),
having both these tendencies
(bise xuality), to all gender
identities (panse xuality o r
bise xuality), or not being attracted to
anyone in a sexual manner
(ase xuality).
4. Sexual Orientation & Sexual
Behavior
Sexual orientation describes an
enduring pattern of attraction that is
romantic or sexual (or a combination
of these) to persons of the opposite
sex, the same sex, or to both sexes,
as well as the genders that
accompany them.
Sexual identity refers to how one
thinks of oneself in terms of whom
one
is romantically or sexually attracted
to. Sexual identity and sexual
behavior are closely related to sexual
orientation
Sexual Behaviorrefers to the
manner in which humans
experience and express their
sexuality. People engage in a
variety of sexual acts from time to
time, and for a wide variety of
reasons.
5. Homosexuality
Homosexuality
is romantic attraction, sexual
attraction or sexual activity between
members of the same sex or gender. As
an orientation, homosexuality refers to
"an enduring pattern of or disposition to
experience sexual, affectionate, or
romantic attractions" primarily or
exclusively to people of the same sex; "it
also refers to an individual's sense of
personal and social identity based on
those attractions, behaviors expressing
them, and membership in a community
of others who share them."
7. History Of Homosexuality in India
The Arthasastra, an
ancient Indian
treatise on statecraft,
mentions a wide
variety of non-
vaginal sexual
practices which,
whether performed
with a man or a
woman, were sought
to be punished with
the lowest grade of
fine. While
homosexual
intercourse was not
sanctioned, it was
treated as a very
minor offence, and
several kinds of
heterosexual
intercourse were
punished more
The classic Indian text Kama Sutra deals without ambiguity or
hypocrisy with all aspects of sexual life—including marriage,
adultery, prostitution, group sex, sadomasochism, male and
female homosexuality, and transvestism.
And once in a while, hidden in niches as in Khajuraho, one does
find images of eitherwomen erotically embracing otherwomen
ormen displaying theirgenitals to each other, the formerbeing
more common (suggesting a tilt in favourof the male voyeur).
Interpretations and judgements aside, these images tell us that
the ‘idea’ of same-sex and what the colonial rulers termed
‘unnatural’ intercourse did exist in India. One can only speculate
if the images represent the common orthe exception.
9. Myths About Homosexuality
MYTH# 1 No one is born gay.
MYTH# 2 Homosexuality can be cured/treated .
MYTH# 3 People become homosexual because there was a deficiency in sex-role
modeling by their parents.
MYTH# 4 LGBT people don't live nearly as long as heterosexuals.
MYTH# 5 Gay people are more prone to be mentally ill and to abuse drugs and
alcohol.
MYTH# 6 Same-sex parents harm children.
MYTH# 7 Gay people can choose to leave homosexuality.
MYTH# 8 Gay men molest children at far higher rates than heterosexuals.
MYTH# 9 Homosexuality is a western concept
MYTH# 10 Homosexuals are impotent males
10. Problems Faced By Homosexuals in
India
•Fear of disclosure of one’s
sexual orientation and HIV status
•Coming out to one’s family,
friends (disclosing one’s sexual
identity to friends and family)
•Anxiety, depression, suicidal
behaviour are also the
common concerns,
particularly when they are
HIV positive
•Fear of disclosure of one’s
sexual orientation and HIV status
•Coming out to one’s family,
friends (disclosing one’s sexual
identity to friends and family)
•Anxiety, depression, suicidal
behaviour are also the
common concerns,
particularly when they are
HIV positive
Confusion/conflation of
sexual orientation with
gender
Dealing with pressures of
marriage
Discrimination at
home/workplace and
Society.
Lack of social support
systems
11. How Counselors Can Help !
Try and address your own discomfort with sexual practices,
sexuality and sexual orientations
Express a positive, open body language like smiling,
nodding, concern, etc and understand verbal and non
verbal cues
Ensure privacy and confidentiality
Be sensitive while asking questions
Acknowledge client’s relationship and value them
Encourage condom usage and explore other health issues
Referrals to other counselors or therapists
12. Concerns And Challenges
Helping the
family to
realize
implications
of the
individual’s
sexual
orientation(m
arriage, child
bearing,
social
consequence
s)
Dealing with issues related to one’s
loneliness
Sex and sexuality needs to be
discussed in open forums Introducing
curriculum on sexuality in universities
Spreading Awareness About
Homosexuality being natural among
the people
