How to respond: Myths and Facts About Homosexuality

By Licensed Psychologist Karen Hart, M.Ed.

MYTH: If someone invites you to have homosexual sex with them, it means that you are gay and the person asking you can sense it, even if you are not sure yourself.

FACT: The only reason he or she asked you was because he or she thought you could be talked into it.

MYTH: Occasional homosexual feelings mean that you are gay and that you may as well experiment with others.

FACT: Lots of teenagers go through a phase of having homosexual feelings, but most will eventually outgrow it on their own. This does not mean you are gay.

MYTH: Gay people are born that way.

FACT: The research has never proven that. The “gay gene” researchers themselves never claimed that homosexuality was inborn.

MYTH: 10% of the population is gay.

FACT: 2-4% of the adult male population is gay. 1-3% of the adult female population is gay.

MYTH: If you try to change your sexual orientation, you will fail and end up self-hating, depressed, and suicidal.

FACT: Motivated people who get the right kind of help can and do change. Even those who change only partially feel a lot better about themselves. Many homosexuals who experienced depression, found that their depression lifted when they underwent re-orientation.

MYTH: A condom will protect you from AIDS.

FACT: A condom might reduce risk but is no guarantee of safety.

MYTH: Gay people are as well-adjusted as other people, they just happen to prefer the same sex partners.

FACT: Gays are more likely to be depressed, suicidal, abuse chemicals, and have neurotic fears.

MYTH: Gay people have all these problems because society rejects them.

FACT: Gay people have as many or more problems in countries where homosexuality is widely accepted.

MYTH: If you are a guy who likes music and art, and you don’t like sports, you are probably gay.

FACT: This is an unfair stereotype. You are perfectly capable of being a great artist or musician and also possessing a strong masculine identity.

MYTH: If you are a girl who isn’t interested in guys, you are a lesbian.

FACT: This is an unfair stereotype. Lots of young people resent the sexual pressure they are under and want to accomplish things in life before they start serious dating.