http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060620/ap_on_...e/military_gays

Pentagon lists homosexuality as disorder

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

Tue Jun 20, 6:23 AM ET

WASHINGTON - A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

The document outlines retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities, and in a section on defects lists homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Critics said the reference underscores the Pentagon's failing policies on gays, and adds to a culture that has created uncertainty and insecurity around the treatment of homosexual service members, leading to anti-gay harassment.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jeremy M. Martin said the policy document is under review.

The Pentagon has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but requires discharges of those who openly acknowledge being gay.

The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, at the University of California at Santa Barbara, uncovered the document and pointed to it as further proof that the military deserves failing grades for its treatment of gays.

Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the center, said, "The policy reflects the department's continued misunderstanding of homosexuality and makes it more difficult for gays and lesbians to access mental health services."

The document, called a Defense Department Instruction, was condemned by medical professionals, members of Congress and other experts, including the American Psychiatric Association.

"It is disappointing that certain Department of Defense instructions include homosexuality as a 'mental disorder' more than 30 years after the mental health community recognized that such a classification was a mistake," said Rep. Marty Meehan (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass.

Congress members noted that other Pentagon regulations dealing with mental health do not include homosexuality on any lists of psychological disorders. And in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday, nine lawmakers asked for a full review of all documents and policies to ensure they reflect that same standard.

"Based on scientific and medical evidence the APA declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 — a position shared by all other major health and mental health organizations based on their own review of the science," James H. Scully Jr., head of the psychiatric association, said in a letter to the Defense Department's top doctor earlier this month.

There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended last Sept. 30. That marked the first year since 2001 that the total had increased. The number of discharges had declined each year since it peaked at 1,227 in 2001, and had fallen to 653 in 2004.

I swear, nothing amazing me now. The fact that people still think homosexuality is a disorder/illness angers me. I have plenty of homosexual friends and do not believe that they have a disorder. What ever.....

Nothing amazes me anymore either, especially anything to do with the leaders of this country. I am bisexual and I cant help that I am sexually attracted to both sexes, disorder my ass. I was born this way damnit.

This just makes me sick....I have relatives that are homosexual and bisexual, who have actually been shunned by other members of the family. This isn't some disorder, nor is it a disease...I wish people will stop saying this crap.

I will admit, I'm a Christian, however, I don't shun anyone for their lifestyle...nor do I treat them differently from me because of the lifestyle they want to live. Unfortunately, because I still keep the lines of communication wide open, some of the family won't talk to me mainly because they feel that I'm on as they would say "those folks side" and that I should be ashamed to even want to have anything to do with someone that is either homosexual or bisexual.

I'm a Christian too but this bigotry does not underscore Jesus' doctrines of acceptance. Jesus was a liberal and welcoming of all those society shunned!

Nothing amazes me anymore either, especially anything to do with the leaders of this country. I am bisexual and I cant help that I am sexually attracted to both sexes, disorder my ass. I was born this way damnit.

And see, I disagree. I'm bisexual but I don't agree I was born that way. I wasn't.

I might add: I'm not "bisexual" so much as I have adopted a bisexual lifestyle. Again, not born that way. I don't buy it.

So....you just decided one day that "hey, I think I like guys!"? Is that what you're saying? You're saying that you made a conscious decision to be a bi-sexual? If so that good for you. The fact that you can turn your "bi-sexuality" off makes you blessed I guess. You are lucky that you can turn that off and on, especially when there are homosexuals and bi-sexuals who don't have that option. That means you should be able to decide that you are no longer bi-sexual and choose to live a straight life right? I don't buy it. I won't turn this into a "are you born this way or not" debate, but I believe that people are born who they are.

Homosexuality as a mental disorder? The 1960's are back! RETRO!!

So....you just decided one day that "hey, I think I like guys!"? Is that what you're saying? You're saying that you made a conscious decision to be a bi-sexual? If so that good for you. The fact that you can turn your "bi-sexuality" off makes you blessed I guess. You are lucky that you can turn that off and on, especially when there are homosexuals and bi-sexuals who don't have that option. That means you should be able to decide that you are no longer bi-sexual and choose to live a straight life right? I don't buy it. I won't turn this into a "are you born this way or not" debate, but I believe that people are born who they are.

Well, it's true. At least, for me it is. I have had homosexuals (one on this board) who have told me stories of being 6 years old and knowing they like members of the same sex. I never, ever, ever felt that way so young. I think the guy thing just happened when I was a teenager. My Internet connection was the culprit in that (blush). I discovered the Internet, and didn't know about full-fledged porn, but realized that half-naked men were topless and women never were...and, that's how that ACTUALLY began. Not at birth.

In the end (or at that true beginning),it all boiled down to who showed the most skin.

While there are people out there that experiment with homosexuality or bisexuality either out of curiosity, rebellion, boredness, or some other reason, I still believe the majority of gays and lesbians were made by God. I just can't imagine anyone deliberately choosing to date people of the same sex, knowing how many people in the world are so intolerant and ignorant over it.

I'm 100% straight, but I fully support gay rights. I have met some very nice people since being on the Internet who are gay or bisexual, and it sickens me we have idiots in the world who think they're not human. Straight people who have sex with dogs and young children don't receive the level of hostility that gays and lesbians do. You don't have to accept homosexuality, but you need to tolerate it. It ain't going away, and God makes them everyday.

Well, it's true. At least, for me it is. I have had homosexuals (one on this board) who have told me stories of being 6 years old and knowing they like members of the same sex. I never, ever, ever felt that way so young. I think the guy thing just happened when I was a teenager. My Internet connection was the culprit in that (blush). I discovered the Internet, and didn't know about full-fledged porn, but realized that half-naked men were topless and women never were...and, that's how that ACTUALLY began. Not at birth.

In the end (or at that true beginning),it all boiled down to who showed the most skin.

Well... scientific research shows that sexual orientation is actually determined before birth, in the womb.

Perhaps you didn't realize that you were bisexual until you started looking at men on the internet, (during puberty I assume) but you most likely already had it in you. It takes some people decades to realize that they are gay so it is different for everyone.

I could be wrong, but perhaps you want to believe that bi/homosexuality is a psychological disorder that you will be able to fix or control, rather than a biological urge that will never go away. Because that is what sexual orientation is.

Disorder my ass..... but like the rest of you, NOTHING surprises me these days. Argh.

What an interesting topic. Personally, I've always thought sexuality was a continuum. I've also heard that's true from some scholars. But who knows? It really is a mystery. Do you feel that's true, JERSoapsFan? Oh and by the way: cool signature line, "James E. Reilly alliance." If you don't mind (and anyone else whose signature has it), I'd like to add it to mine!

While there are people out there that experiment with homosexuality or bisexuality either out of curiosity, rebellion, boredness, or some other reason, I still believe the majority of gays and lesbians were made by God. I just can't imagine anyone deliberately choosing to date people of the same sex, knowing how many people in the world are so intolerant and ignorant over it.

I'm 100% straight, but I fully support gay rights. I have met some very nice people since being on the Internet who are gay or bisexual, and it sickens me we have idiots in the world who think they're not human. Straight people who have sex with dogs and young children don't receive the level of hostility that gays and lesbians do. You don't have to accept homosexuality, but you need to tolerate it. It ain't going away, and God makes them everyday.

ITA agree Bree...

I too am 100% straight as well, but I do support gay rights. In fact I was only of only about 23% of Kentuckians who voted against a ban on gay marriage here a couple of years ago; however being the red state it is, about 77% of the people voted for it.

And what is it with people? We always have to have someone to discrimate against in this country (and the world as a whole). Whether it be African-Americans, women, homosexuals, people from other countries, etc... we always seem to find someone to oppress.

What gets me is how people talk about letting gay couples wed is destroying the institution of marriage. Yeah, right. Marriage is already being destroyed by infedilaty; physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; crimes of passion; divorce; etc.. Just look at how high the divorce rate is these days, and tell me that the institution of marriage is not already losing its foundation.

Being gay is not a disease, a choice or a crime....but ignorance sure is.

According to the Canadian encyclopedia, homosexuality is defined as "a sexual orientation characterised by lasting aesthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for others of the same sex or gender". This definiation mentions nothing about it being a mental disorder.

I do not believe anyone is born with it either. I think it just comes down to what attracts you to someone. That is not a born with issue, that is a what you like issue.