Attitudes towards homosexuality

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Attitudes towards homosexuality vary between different societies, cultures and organized groups such as religions. The variety of attitudes are often reflected in legal codes, from liberal approaches in countries such as the Netherlands and Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal, to ultra-repressive attitudes in countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran where homosexuality is a capital offense.

Religious attitudes towards homosexuality

Christianity

Christian attitudes towards homosexuality are varied and different Christian groups have radically different interpretations of the same Bible texts. Some branches of the Christian faith will allow gay marriages and the ordainment of gay ministers. However, many Christian conservatives, those detached from reality, and unclassifiable wingnuts use the Bible as a justification of intolerance/hatred/violence towards gays. One biblical quote that is used to justify the repression of homosexuality is:

“”Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

—Leviticus 18:22

The death penalty for homosexuality, which was recently introduced in Uganda in 2009 and linked to US evangelicalism, could be biblically justified with the following quote:

“”If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

—Leviticus 20:13

However, despite Biblical prohibitions of sodomy, the Bible is relatively vague when it comes to homosexuality. The above quotes could be read to address adultery instead of homosexuality; this helps explain the variety of Christian attitudes to the subject, and how many gay Christians are able to reconcile their sexual orientation with their religious beliefs.

Interestingly enough, Jesus' mother Mary was married to Joseph, whom it is clearly stated that he had two fathers, Jacob (Matthew 1:16) and Heli (Luke 3:23), if the bible is to be understood literally. Since Mary was specially chosen to give birth to the Messiah, and Jesus therefore destined to be adopted by a father who was raised by two men, this may call into question the fundamentalist Christian interpretation of the bible as condemning of same-sex parentage/relationships.

Islam

Like Christians, Muslims also hold a variety of views about homosexuality. In many countries under Sharia law, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, and Sudan, homosexuality is punishable by death, and public violence against gays is very common. However, not all Muslim-majority countries criminalise homosexuality. Indonesia and Turkey, both secular republics rather than Islamic theocracies, have no laws against homosexuality. However, society's attitude towards gay people in the aforementioned countries is not quite accepting, with very small portions of their populations thinking homosexuality should be accepted.

Judaism

Like the other Abrahamic religions, attitudes towards homosexuality in Judaism vary. Reformed and Conservative Judaism typically support queer people, while Orthodox Judaism typically holds a negative view of queer people.

By country

United States

The United States, like many Western industrialized nations, is home to a variety of social attitudes on homosexuality. The U.S. only got around to legalizing gay marriage in 2015 in the case Obergefell v. Hodges, with considerable controversy. However, many so-called "family values" advocates oppose the civil rights advances that homosexuals have made in recent years, and, as in many countries, violence against homosexuals is still a problem.

Homosexuals have become more prominent in the media in recent years.

The United States lags behind some other Western industrialized countries in terms of the rights enjoyed by homosexuals. Public opinion on the question of homosexuality is mixed. A Gallup poll in 2008 showed that about 48% of Americans believed homosexuality was morally acceptable while 48% believed it was not.

There are many states in the U.S. that are considered "gay utopias", where states grant equal rights to homosexuals. These states include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and California.

Some extremists feel that gay rights in United States would lead to gay totalitarianism and destroy democracy, although this kind of hysteria is stirred up by fringe elements.

Attitudes towards homosexuality varies among different ethnic groups. An exit poll conducted showed that 70% percent of African Americans and 53% of Hispanic Americans voted for Proposition 8 while 51% of Asian Americans voted against it.

There have been many highly-publicized acts of homophobia in United States, including:

• The brutal murder of Matthew Shephard
• Jerry Falwell's comments after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
• Boy Scouts banning membership for homosexuals
• The shooting of 15 year old Lawrence King.
• Bullying towards gays and lesbians in schools is relatively common

Japan

Much of Japanese pop culture, from video games to anime and manga, has homosexuality as a common theme. Japanese society tends not to condemn homosexuality on moral or religious grounds, and the country has no laws against homosexuality; Japan is thought by some to be more tolerant to gays and lesbians than many Western countries. A 2023 survey found that 64% of Japanese respondents favored legalizing same-sex marriages. However, neither same-sex civil unions nor marriages are currently recognized there. Some localities, such as Tokyo, do recognize gay couples in a way that is not legally binding but allows them to benefit from certain services as a married heterosexual couple would.

New Zealand

Gay marriage in New Zealand has been legal since 2013. New Zealand also has a transgender Member of Parliament.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is considered to be one of the friendliest countries in the world towards homosexuals and was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. Public acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage is relatively high in the Netherlands (as well as being the highest supporters of same-sex marriage), but the country is also home to a significant Muslim minority, some of whom are less tolerant of homosexuality.

Sweden

In May 2009, Sweden legalized same-sex marriage. Gays and lesbian are also protected from all forms of discrimination in Sweden.

Uganda

Uganda is socially very conservative and intolerant of gays, and many gay Ugandans have fled claiming persecution. In February 2014, stringent new laws were passed including life imprisonment for aggravated homosexuality, i.e. homosexuals living consensually together. Lesbianism also became illegal. The law was declared void after several donor nations cut aid in response to it. In March 2023 however, yet another such law was passed.

South Africa

While many Sub-Saharan African countries have laws against homosexuality, South Africa is a unique case. The country legalized same-sex marriage in 2006 , although, as is the case virtually everywhere where gay marriage has been legalized, opposition on the grounds of "family values" still persist among parts of the population.

Miscellaneous

Far-right in eastern Europe

Unsurprisingly, the far-right are not typically fans of homosexuality. In countries where a far-right element is on the rise, such as Ukraine and Russia, persistently homophobic sentiments are prevalent throughout.

Far-left

Certain people, belonging to the new-wave leftists, have expressed their distaste for homosexuals, whenever it doesn't align with whatever the party line of the day is. This phenomenon is perhaps, one of the best examples of the horseshoe theory in action.