Social institutions contribute to homosexual youth suicide

For you, Rhonda, how will you define gay and homosexuality, whether you are using it interchangeably or not?

"...Religious beliefs are a strong motivating factor in gay youth suicide. Homosexuality is often depicted as a sin, morally wrong and evil. Families frequently turn to the place of worship for guidance and understanding; yet many religions continue to condemn this behavior as immoral based on their interpretation of religious writings..."

Homosexuality is engaging in sex with the same sex after you have previously engaged yourself with the opposite sex due to lust . Being gay is having some similarity or almost all the characteristics of the opposite sex, whether it is obvious or not.

I believe that homosexuals start from being gay. When a child begins to exhibit signs of being gay, what do people do? These children starts to grow, they are now left in the mercy of the people around them who have their own religion or norm they abide or reject.

Acceptance is very important for a gay, so do any one regardless of sexual preference. Teenagers start to have problems due to hormonal changes, and so do adults, what more of a gay teenager, or an adult gay? Aside from the expected emotional and physical changes, they will be facing, additional problems caused by intolerance from the people around them whom they expect to guide them.  And as they grow, the usual living conditions will definitely be different. Regardless if they are obvious or discreet, beautiful or ugly, there is this longing within them, making them wonder or ask for so many questions and seek for answers; for acceptance, but can't be found. They just thought that engaging in homosexual acts or being discreet is the answer, especially when they mistook the pleasure or satisfaction they get as love and happiness. Or they share the ideals or points of view of those hypocrites, or those ignoramous, or those who enjoy having homosexual affairs and or as a way of living. And no one of them will be satisfied with just that, because the people around them are still the same. They will still meet new faces, people with the same old attitudes toward them or challenging behaviors.

In my country, the Philippines, the common mentality is, "so long as the gay person is not related to me." As far as I have observed they learn to laugh whenever a gay is being depicted, as ugly and effeminate, pretty and dumb, or spoofing someone for entertainment, on TV shows and comedy bars.

I like to watch gay comedians, and those intelligent ones who has their own success stories to tell. Most of them really did struggle just to make ends meet because the head of their family doesn't want to be involved with them, forcing them to leave home at such an early age. Who knows what they've gone through.

I agree with the author that religious belief plays a big role on the life of gays and homosexuals.  Condemning something based on the misinterpretation of what the Bible say; the intolerance or tolerance of a leader; the hypocrisy of people around you; or the norms of an ignorant group is really very inhumane and unbiblical.

I have my share of intolerance sometimes, but I know that I have to change that feeling especially to those who has not yet understood God's words. In our Church, we learned to accept the gays. Whether they were once a homosexual, because we believe that guiding them with the undefiled words of God will give them a choice.  You cannot change a real woman to like her opposite, neither you can force a real man to like a man. That is how we look at gays, you can't force them not to like whom they would like. But there is always an exception to the rule, whethere you are a real woman, a real man, or even a gay, you have freedom but not letting lust to overpower your freedom. Even a man looking to a woman with lust is a sin, so is a gay looking at a whoever he prefers with lust is a sin. We believe that homosexuals are those man or woman who had sex to an opposite sex, but due to their lust, they even wanted to have sex to same sex.

Regardless of our sexuality, we learned our faith through hearing, and hearing is listening to the words of God in the Holy Scriptures. Our hope becomes stronger everyday.

The Holy Bible is a book of love. It contains the undeniable love of God for those who fear Him, those who follows His commandments, and those who doesn't know him unintentionally. He wants all men to be saved. It is not for God's benefit because you cannot add nor subtract anything from God. But His words are for the sake of the one who is following them and for the sake of those people around him. 

Hopeless people are susceptible to committing suicide, regardless of sexual preference. If you are a homosexual and even a gay, and if you believe that you wanted the hope that we share in our church, just send me a message and we are ready to help you understand the difficulty that you are into.

Hi! Rhonda,

I would like to correct my definition of homosexuality. My definition was referring to bisexuality.

Romans 1:26 (King James Version)

 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

This one should be condemned according to the description of the Holy Bible. The one with perversion and vile affections.

Romans 1 (King James Version)

 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 Their outlook in life, deeds, etc, are against the righteousness of God, regardless if you are a real man or woman.

I Corinthians 6:9

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Exodus 4:11 (King James Version)

 11And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

1 Peter 3 (King James Version)

1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

 7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

 8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

It is God who made man and woman, even those gay and lesbians. And what is good in God's sight is the inner man of heart, with honor and dignity, fighting for the truth in God.

Jeremiah 51 (King James Version)

 30The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

It is the manhood, or the manliness, that is the image of him that created him or her.

Colossians 3:10 (King James Version)

 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Hebrews 3:13 (King James Version)

 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

QueensHart, thank you for reading, commenting and for the recommendation! Thanks for the additional information as well.

"Gays and lesbians aren't the ones who need to change. Those who see homosexuality as immoral, who want to segregate gays and lesbians and refuse them legal rights and privileges that heterosexuals enjoy, should take a long look in the mirror to see where some reparative therapy might actually do some good." These are definitely statements I agree with! Thanks again!

On another note, let me answer some quoted reference here:

"...The treatments, called reparative therapy, simply don't work. That's because the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians does not constitute mental illness. They are as normal as left-handed people or people with detached earlobes.

Humans are not clones; differences of all kinds are part of the human condition and most are accepted as normal, though dissimilar from the majority of the population. Homosexuality, however, isn't as well- tolerated by the heterosexual community as lefties are among the right- handed. That intolerance is often supported by references to scripture or religious doctrine, just as mistreatment of Jews and blacks was, for centuries, said to be God's will.

But that bias shouldn't force gays to try to change who they are. The APA report is just the latest scientific evidence that trying to change sexual orientation is futile, and worse, can cause lifelong unhappiness or depression, and sometimes leads to suicide...."

But why is it that when research in science is leaning to what the Holy Bible says, most people would not agree? This is due to their preconceived ideas about God and the Holy Bible due to misinterpretation from self-study or from religious leaders. The Holy Bible contains scientific facts that are now being proven by scientists.

I believe also that being gay is normal and God has a commandment if you feel you are gay, even if you can't accept the fact that you really are gay. Even for those who are now living in homosexual activities, God has a commandment for you, likewise to the woman and the man, there is no exception.

God wants all men to be saved and what else? For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (King James Version)

"But the APA declaration that it does not support reparative therapy is only part of the group's recommendation. It advises its members to urge their gay patients who are trying to reconcile their homosexuality with a religion that abhors it to adopt celibacy or switch religions."

I also agree that gays should switch religions if their problem is their sexuality, but the statement lacks more details as to what constitutes "a religion who abhors it".  When you try to figure out most of religions and norms, it is not the gayness and homosexuals act that they abhor, it is now the person. All of the previous religious affiliation have gay members, and they thought and they are taught that they could change, the appearance change, but the longing for a partner was misplaced, the new behavior is forced. And they still thought, that they were healed by God.  Some denies the fact that they are gay inside, because they are not gay anymore outside; some marry their opposite sex, only to find out that it's a mistake.  Some remains single, but time comes when both of them really can't bear it and they became worse than their previous self.

The the longing is still, they are still gay!

I live in the Philippines, which was also called “Las Islas Filipinas”.  I live in a third world country, but even in a rich country, religion or no-religion, has it share of intolerance and tolerance towards gay. But I assure you, in our country, we have a group of people who has changed of minds on how we look at them, a genuine biblical consideration as a person, and as a Christian.

As I said previously, you cannot force a real man nor a real woman to like their same sex, likewise, gays to like his opposite sex or whoever they don't prefer. But you can help them, with God's help, to feel accepted in the truest sense of it and to have a sense of belongingness and hoping for that day when our mortal body will be changed to a glorious one, no more crying, no more pain, only love (agape).

We have freedom, but it is God who directs our path.  Jeremiah 6:16 (KJV) says, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. The end phrase says, "...But they said, We will not walk therein.

But that bias shouldn't force gays to try to change who they are. The APA report is just the latest scientific evidence that trying to change sexual orientation is futile, and worse, can cause lifelong unhappiness or depression, and sometimes leads to suicide.

From what I learned from the Church where I belong, we are taught to respect all persons.

Regardless of whether the word poor is the outside appearance or how society label "normal gender" and despise gays, I learn to respect an individual. But of course we are taught what we ought to act towards our brethren and towards God, "if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."  1 Timothey 3:15 (KJV) How people ought to conduct themselves should be based on rightly dividing the words of God.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? James 2:1-6 (King James Version)

Suicide is never the solution, we can seek to attain that "hope".

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Thank you, smkovalinsky! 

You are very welcome, Pythiian1! Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!

Family should be first and foremost in the preservation of the child's spirit. And, even though I fully understand the individual indoctrinated mind, it is still horrifying to me that any parent would subject his/her child(ren) to any social institution where they faced rejection, stigmatization, etc.

Religious beliefs/institutions aside, schools (where children spend at least 13 years of their lives) are often the worst offenders.

francislholland, thanks for this! Appears to be an interesting read. I have had difficulty differentiating Spanish/Portuguese. I do think however that Google Translator can do the job for an English translation. Thanks again!

Absolutely, jazz! Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!

Very good, eastvanray:)! Thank you for reading and commenting!  I do not know what studies Mr. Barton referenced for this piece. I can however direct you to scholarly articles that support the premise that there is a predisposition to homosexuality, here.