The history of medicine is filled with examples of how societal attitudes towards certain conditions have influenced their diagnosis and treatment. One such example is the historical medicalization of homosexuality. Throughout much of human history, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder, and individuals who identified as gay were often subjected to treatments that were not just harmful but also dehumanizing. These treatments included everything from conversion therapy to electroshock therapy.
Recent years have seen a shift away from this approach towards more ethical practices that recognize the individual experiences of those who identify as LGBTQ+.
This paper will examine the ways in which the medicalization of homosexuality has reinforced social stigma and exclusion throughout history, and what lessons contemporary healthcare systems can draw from these findings to improve policy and ethical practices. The paper will begin with an overview of the evolution of medical approaches to homosexuality, before moving on to discuss how these approaches have contributed to social stigma and exclusion.
It will consider some potential solutions for improving care for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
Evolution of Medical Approaches to Homosexuality
Throughout most of human history, homosexuality was considered a mental illness or perversion. In fact, it wasn't until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of officially recognized mental illnesses (Bullough & Bullough, 2002). Prior to this change, however, many people who identified as gay underwent extreme and damaging treatments aimed at curing them of their sexual orientation. One such treatment was conversion therapy, which attempted to "cure" homosexuals by having them engage in heterosexual activities like dating and marriage (Harris, 2016). Another common treatment was electroshock therapy, where electric currents were sent through the brain in an attempt to alter one's sexual orientation (Lewin, 2015). These treatments were not only unsuccessful but also incredibly harmful, often resulting in lasting physical and emotional damage.
Medicalization of Homosexuality Reinforced Social Stigma and Exclusion
Despite advances in our understanding of sexuality, the medicalization of homosexuality has had significant consequences for those who identify as LGBTQ+. For starters, it reinforced social stigma against gay individuals by suggesting that there was something inherently wrong with them that needed to be fixed (Klein, 2014).
These approaches contributed to exclusion by making it difficult for individuals to access healthcare services without first disclosing their sexual orientation (Hall, 2015). This lack of access can lead to a number of negative outcomes, including poorer overall health and higher rates of suicide (Meyer et al., 2008).
Improving Care for Individuals Who Identify as LGBTQ+
Recent years have seen a shift away from these damaging practices towards more ethical approaches that recognize the individual experiences of those who identify as LGBTQ+. One such approach is affirmative care, which involves providing care that is sensitive to the needs of queer individuals and does not try to change or suppress their sexual orientation (Bostwick et al., 2013). Another approach is intersectionality-based care, which recognizes how multiple factors like race, gender, and socioeconomic status can impact an individual's experience of being LGBTQ+ (Hillard & Gates, 2017). By implementing these types of care, healthcare systems can begin to address some of the historical harms caused by the medicalization of homosexuality and provide more inclusive care for all patients.
The history of medicine is filled with examples of how societal attitudes towards certain conditions have influenced their diagnosis and treatment. The medicalization of homosexuality is one such example, where individuals were subjected to harmful treatments aimed at curing them of their sexual orientation. While these approaches are no longer commonplace, they have had lasting consequences for those who identify as LGBTQ+. By acknowledging this history and moving towards more ethical approaches, healthcare systems can improve policy and practice for all patients.
How has the medicalization of homosexuality historically reinforced social stigma and exclusion, and what lessons can contemporary healthcare systems draw for policy and ethical practices?
The process of medicalizing homosexuality was characterized by an attempt to diagnose sexual minorities with mental disorders such as "sexual deviance" or "ego dystonic sexual orientation. " This practice was widespread from the 19th century until the mid-20th century when it began to be abandoned due to growing awareness of its unethical nature.