Is homosexuality dangerous?

[DanieltheDragon]

I have encountered many arguments before but one that keeps cropping up in defense of oppressive or unfair public policy against LGBT individuals is that being gay is unhealthy.

Questions for debate

Does Homosexual behavior cause aids?

Does Homosexual behavior cause Drug addiction?

Does Homosexual behavior cause a shorter life-span?

If male homosexual behavior increases a risk to HIV infection should female homosexual behavior be treated as the same risk factor even though their infection rates are far less?

Given the difference between male and female infection rates of HIV should we base public policy on all homosexual individuals only looking at male infection rates?

Could sex education solve these issues just as easily if not better than oppressive/unfair public policy?


Feel free to address any or all of these questions or propose some of your own.

[connermt]

Questions for debate

Does Homosexual behavior cause aids?

It can lead to more infections, but so can heterosexual behaviour

Does Homosexual behavior cause Drug addiction?

It can but so can a lot of things

Does Homosexual behavior cause a shorter life-span?

It can but so can a lot of things

If male homosexual behavior increases a risk to HIV infection should female homosexual behavior be treated as the same risk factor even though their infection rates are far less?

I would think so, but haven't given that much thought as of late....

Given the difference between male and female infection rates of HIV should we base public policy on all homosexual individuals only looking at male infection rates?

All, no.

Could sex education solve these issues just as easily if not better than oppressive/unfair public policy?

I'm not sure what you mean by 'oppressive/unfair public policy' so I can't comment on that specifically, however, education is always a good thing.

Can't (just about) anything be 'unhealthy' if it's done to excess?
People can die from drinking too much water over a period of time, but we don't hear about 'the dangers of drinking water'.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 2 by connermt]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'oppressive/unfair public policy' so I can't comment on that specifically, however, education is always a good thing.

such as banning sodomy and LGBT marriage in order to discourage homosexual acts.

I would think that educating individuals about safe sex is far more cost effective and moral than banning people from their natural preferences.

Quote:
Does Homosexual behavior cause Drug addiction?

It can but so can a lot of things

Quote:
Does Homosexual behavior cause a shorter life-span?

It can but so can a lot of things

this has always been kind of a gray area for me while LGBT individuals on avg have shorter life spans and higher rates of drug addiction than control groups. I don't think its looking at the whole picture. Like parental abandonment etc. So I always shy on the side of saying no it does not cause drug addiction or a shorter life span but being LGBT in of itself can put an individual in an unhealthy psychological/physical environment through no fault of their own. Hence the need to change as a culture to make a healthier environment for all.

[connermt]

[Replying to post 3 by DanieltheDragon]

I would think that educating individuals about safe sex is far more cost effective and moral than banning people from their natural preferences.

Probably so, but not everyone is willing to 'learn' from education.
Banning doesn't seem to be effective, yet some 'people' continue to think so.

...while LGBT individuals on avg have shorter life spans and higher rates of drug addiction than control groups. I don't think its looking at the whole picture.

Most polls don't show the whole picture, but simply pose a concept, as it were.

I always shy on the side of saying no it does not cause drug addiction or a shorter life span but being LGBT in of itself can put an individual in an unhealthy psychological/physical environment through no fault of their own.

I would say that's a safe assumption to consider, though it would be debatable as to how much is because of 'the gay' and how much is how society interacts with 'the gays'

Hence the need to change as a culture to make a healthier environment for all.

Agreed. Though, the loudest minority seems to have the biggest impact in society - especially when something is said to be 'gross' like make claim being gay is.
Even if made legal/illegal, society seems slow to change. I suppose people prefer to same ol' same ol'

[ten10ths]

I have encountered many arguments before but one that keeps cropping up in defense of oppressive or unfair public policy against LGBT individuals is that being gay is unhealthy.

Questions for debate

Does Homosexual behavior cause aids?

Does Homosexual behavior cause Drug addiction?

Does Homosexual behavior cause a shorter life-span?

If male homosexual behavior increases a risk to HIV infection should female homosexual behavior be treated as the same risk factor even though their infection rates are far less?

Given the difference between male and female infection rates of HIV should we base public policy on all homosexual individuals only looking at male infection rates?

Could sex education solve these issues just as easily if not better than oppressive/unfair public policy?


Feel free to address any or all of these questions or propose some of your own.

Without knowledge and common sense, anything can be dangerous. Too much sugar, prescription drugs, parental protection - all can be dangerous if not taken with a sense of moderation

[Overcomer]

10tenths wrote:

Without knowledge and common sense, anything can be dangerous. Too much sugar, prescription drugs, parental protection - all can be dangerous if not taken with a sense of moderation

I'm not sure how that applies to homosexuality. How does one be a homosexual "with a sense of moderation?" Could you please explain what you mean?

Thanks!

[ten10ths]

10tenths wrote:

Without knowledge and common sense, anything can be dangerous. Too much sugar, prescription drugs, parental protection - all can be dangerous if not taken with a sense of moderation

I'm not sure how that applies to homosexuality. How does one be a homosexual "with a sense of moderation?" Could you please explain what you mean?

Thanks!

It wasn't so much as directed towards being gay, but in general. Being gay is no more dangerous than anything else though from my experience.

[Haven]

I'm not sure how that applies to homosexuality. How does one be a homosexual "with a sense of moderation?"

Practice safe sex, avoid promiscuity, save sex for committed relationships, remain celibate if you want. The same way someone can be a heterosexual "with a sense of moderation."

[99percentatheism]

I'm not sure how that applies to homosexuality. How does one be a homosexual "with a sense of moderation?"

Practice safe sex, avoid promiscuity, save sex for committed relationships, remain celibate if you want. The same way someone can be a heterosexual "with a sense of moderation."

"Relationships" ?????

In Christian culture as detailed in the New Testament, marriage to only one person is what is considered a "committed relationship. And of course, in the New Testament, marriage is immutably heterosexual.

"Relationships" is considered promiscuity isn't it?

[Haven]

"Relationships" ?????

In Christian culture as detailed in the New Testament, marriage to only one person is what is considered a "committed relationship. And of course, in the New Testament, marriage is immutably heterosexual.

"Relationships" is considered promiscuity isn't it?

No. A gay/lesbian committed relationship is exactly the same as a heterosexual one -- dedication and faithfulness, not promiscuity. Why do you judge LGBT people by a different standard? We are people, you know, and we desire the same things you do, including committed love-based relationships. Personally, I want to start a family someday.