Help for Those who
Same-sex attraction is an intense interest in others of the same gender. This interest may include desires for their attention, friendship, intimacy, and/or a fascination with their bodies and other gender traits. It may also include erotic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors directed toward the same gender. The psychological community uses the term homosexuality to refer to the entire complex that includes attractions, feelings, desires, sexual behavior, identity, and all its associated aspects, such as problems with masculinity, self-perception, emotional dependencies, and relationship issues.
A person who experiences same-sex attraction may experience emotional and sexual feelings or attractions, and may or may not engage in sexual behavior. Same-sex attraction cannot be identified simply by the presence or absence of outward sexual behavior.
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Many factors contribute to the development of homosexual attractions. Same-sex attraction is the result of a complex interaction of personality, biological inheritance, and developmental experiences.
People do not choose to have same-sex feelings. These attractions usually develop because social and emotional needs were not met in the developmental years.
Men do not develop same-sex attraction because they are afraid of women. Women do not develop same-sex attraction because they are afraid of men. In reality, relationships with the opposite gender usually have little to do with same-sex attraction; instead, they have to do with relationships with the same gender.
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There are many people who were previously conflicted by same-sex attractions and the desires to act on them, but now have diminished the feelings and attractions, eliminated homosexual behavior, and are now much happier and at greater peace.
Read more about resolving same-sex attraction.
Myths About Same-sex Attraction
Same-sex attraction is often misunderstood. Here are several myths and the truth about same-sex attraction.