Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by romantic or sexual desire for persons of the same sex. Persons with this sexual orientation are called homosexual (noun and adjective). In women, romantic or sexual desire for other women is also called lesbianism (lesbian, noun and adjective.) The term gay is used to refer to homosexuals of either gender, although it is mostly used to refer to males (hence the expression "gays and lesbians" or "gay men and lesbians").
The term homosexuality is also used for sexual behavior, rather than attraction, between people of the same sex.
People whose sexual desire and activities are strongly channelled toward members of their own sex are a minority of the population (variously estimated to be anywhere from 2% to 10%). The Kinsey report reported that 37% of men in the U.S. have achieved orgasm of some type and duration through contact with another male, although this number was later disputed as highly exaggerated.
Some people who are in general heterosexual may have mild or occasional interest in members of their own sex. Conversely, many people who identify themselves as homosexual, or who might prefer homosexual activities or relationships, have engaged in heterosexual activities or even have long-term heterosexual relationships. Such "heterosexual" behavior by people who would otherwise be homosexual has often been part of being "in the closet", or concealing one's homosexuality, and may be becoming less common as acceptance of homosexuality increases.
Sexual activity with a person of the same sex, in and of itself, is not necessarily considered homosexuality, but is considered homosexual behavior. Not all who are attracted or have sexual relationships with members of the same sex identify themselves as homosexual or even bisexual. Some people frequently have sex with members of the same sex yet still see themselves as heterosexual. It is important therefore to distinguish between homosexual behaviour, homosexual attraction and homosexual identity, which need not coincide.
There are several classes of people who have homosexual sexual behaviors for reasons other than desire. One example is hustlers, who are usually young heterosexual men who make money through prostitution with gay men. Some hustlers are probably homosexual themselves, but a significant number are not.
Some studies, notably Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953) by Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey, note that when asked to rate themselves on a continuum from completely heterosexual to completely homosexual, and when the individuals behavior as well as their identify is analyzed, the majority of people appear to be at least somewhat bisexual. Most people have some attraction to either sex, although usually one sex is preferred. Kinsey and his followers thus consider only a minority (5-10%) fully heterosexual or homosexual.Conversely, only an even smaller minority can be considered "fully" bisexual. Later studies have suggested that Kinsey's studies exaggerate the occurrence of bisexuality in the population at large, but his idea of a sexuality continuum still enjoys wide acceptance.
Queer theory, and most famously the French philosopher Michel Foucault (though some have argued that his opinions on this issue have been distorted by later scholars), attacks the notion that sexual identities such as 'homosexuality', 'heterosexuality' or 'bisexuality' have any objective existence, as opposed to being a social construction. A frequent argument used is that homosexuality prior to the modern period was different from modern homosexuality (age-, gender- or class-structured rather than egalitarian). Critics argue that, although homosexuality in different periods has had different features, the underlying phenomenon has always existed and is not a recent invention of our society.
Many moralists and religious groups view homosexuality to be a sin. See the article on Religion and homosexuality for a discussion of how homosexuality is viewed in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and in neo-pagan religions.
For these reasons, homosexuality has been considered a crime in many cultures, in spite of its status as a consensual act (see consensual crime). Most Western cultures have now legalized homosexuality. The Wolfenden report in the UK was a turning point in the legalization of homosexuality in Western countries.
Homosexuals were among the groups who were killed during the Nazi Holocaust. Unlike Jews or Gypsies, was no concerted effort to exterminate all homosexuals. Nonetheless, Nazi Germany passed many laws criminalizing homosexual relations, and people caught in the act were often sent to their deaths in concentration camps. Homsexuals who maintained the party line usually avoided arrest. In the concentration camps, homosexuals were forced to wear pink triangles. Now, some homosexuals proudly wear these signs.
Some religious movements believe that they can change homosexuals' sexual orientation through "reparative therapy". However, this is denounced by the psychological mainstream as ineffective, unnecessary, and often cruel.
It has been commonly believed that homosexual relationships were frequent in Ancient Greece. However, K.J. Dover points out that such relationships did not replace marriage between man and woman, but occurred before and besides it. A mature man would never have a mature male mate, but he would be the erastes (lover) to a young eromenos (loved one). In this relationship it was considered improper for the eromenos to feel desire, as that would not be masculine. Driven by desire and admiration, the erastes would devote himself unselfishly to providing all the education his eromenos required to thrive in society.
- Greek Homosexuality, K.J. Dover, 1979, Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd, London
In part due to their history of shared oppression, homosexuals in the West have access to a shared culture, although of course not all homosexuals participate in it.
Sexual orientation directed toward the opposite sex is called heterosexuality. Sexual orientation toward both sexes to a significant degree is called bisexuality.
See sexual behaviors, Anthropological classification of homosexuality, homophilia, subculture, Queer, Famous gay lesbian or bisexual people; see also homophobia, SSAD, reparative therapy, Institute for Effective Therapy of Homosexuality