Gender & Family Life

The end of the week was focused on the sensitive topic of understanding same sex attraction(SSA). After watching a video produced by "Family Watch International", which consisted of several male's personal testimonies answering questions and describing experiences on their own SSA, I was able to develop a better understanding and compassion for this subject. An impactful quote from the video states, "It's not so much what happens to us that matters, it is how we perceive what happens to us."(FWI) The interviewees brought up several potential contributing factors for feelings of SSA, including:

• Wounded Gender Identity
• Negative impressions on genders
• Bullying
• Exclusion from either gender group(not accepted)
• Father "Hunger"
• Lack of relationship and quality time with father
• Mother Confusion
• Either too bonded with mother or no attachment
• Inappropriate touch
• Molesting or illegal behavior with close male figures
• Pornography
• Reinforced unhealthy(addicting) imagery

The study continues the interviews by listing sources of help for turning points for the men. People who can help overcome a SSA include: therapists, scholars, church leaders, and counselors, and more. The healing process of better understanding and respecting yourself allows the rise of sense esteem and confidence. Further research does prove that someone with a SSA can change their sexual orientation. Also, two studies were produced analyzing the concept of "born that way". The studies included a large amount of twins from the United States and Australia. Out of the twins from the United States, 50% of the times, both twins had SSA. The study from Australia concluded 11% of the time both twins were found to have SSA; however, both studies declared that in order for the idea of being "born that way" to be valid, the results had to be 100% of the time. Despite this study, the argument remains that several SSA people declare they would never have chosen to have the feelings they do. This declaration may be true; however, it does not mean that the people were not influenced or encouraged to embrace the idea of being gay throughout their life. As analyzed previously, their are several factors that influence the behavior and feelings of SSA.
Additionally we addressed the topic of Transgender people.  Following this conversation, the most important thing I took away was, "Just because someone thinks it, doesn't make it so." These two subjects are personal, yet need to be addressed because, as my teacher stated, "For every gay couple, there is one more women who doesn't get to have a husband and a family." And this affects me and my family, and our world.