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Are Homosexuals Superior To Non-Gays?

John Nosek

Western society has historically denigrated or simply ignored the position of homosexuals in its social structure. Considered less than fully human and a sore on an otherwise "moral" tradition, Gays had been neatly pocketed into com partments that read, "mentally deranged, unnatural, immoral.. and generally undesirable." Reports of late, however not only counteract these assumptions but provide significant evidence that Gay people may possess unique characteristics unknown to their fellow non-Gays.

Mark Freedman, a staff psychologist at the Northeast Community Mental Health Center in San Francisco recently submitted an article entitled, "Homosexuals May Be Healthier Than Straights" to Psychology Today. Freedman cited pioneer research published by psychologist Evelyn Hooker of UCLA in 1957 which drew the then tentative conclusions, that 1) the clinical entity or "disease" called homosexuality does not exist. 2) homosexuality may well be a deviation that is within the normal range of human behavior, and 3) particular forms of sexual desire and expression may play a less important role in personality structure than many psychologists assume. Subsequent studies confirm Hooker's findings which have resulted in both the American Psychiatric Association and the National Science Foundation removing homosexuality from their respective lists of disorders.

-Freedman's research with Lesbians indicated even more provocative information; that Gays may actually be better off psychologically than heterosexuals. First, Freedman claims Gays have responded to social pressures against homosexuality by "centering," discovering and living according to their own values. In his work the Lesbians scored higher than a control group on autonomy, spontaneity, orientation toward the present (as opposed to being obsessed with the past or anticipating the future), and sensitivity to one's own needs and feelings. In brief, feelings of separateness

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The Dancin at The Bay

JACK SHAW

Is A T