Criminally misunderstood

I recently came across someone’s opinion that the decriminalisation of homosexuality can lead to a rise in child abuse, male rape and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Nothing can be farther from the truth. These fears reflect the fact that ignorance (about sexuality) breeds misconceptions about sexual behaviour. Sexual orientation and crime are totally different issues. Behavioural and medical research have clearly proved that beyond doubt.

Homosexuals are as normal as heterosexuals are. They can be mature, intelligent, skilled and humane. There are black sheep in any group. In fact, the incidence of criminal acts perpetrated by heterosexuals outnumbers that committed by homosexuals. Child sexual abusers are mostly close relatives and persons known to the children. These abusers are mostly insecure and developmentally dysfunctional heterosexual men. Similarly rape, whether male or female, is committed by psychologically disturbed individuals. According to Robert Hazelwood, former FBI special agent and behavioural scientist, the motives for rape range from power reassurance, power assertion, retaliation against real and imagined wrongs to sexual excitation through sadistic acts etc. Sexual pleasure is not the motive. The pleasure of subjugating and humiliating the other person is more appealing than the sexual act itself in these rapists.

Epidemiological evidence clearly points out that HIV/AIDS is spread more through heterosexual intercourse than homosexual intercourse, in Asia and Africa. The problem with most heterosexuals is that, by virtue of their being a majority they consider themselves as normal and homosexuals as abnormal.

What we need is equal rights for homosexuals and not a law against them.

The writer is a sexologist. Mail him at dr.narayana@deccanmail.com