Page 56 - PowerE-L05-D

Lesson 14

Homosexuals

What do you think of gays? Gays are homosexuals. Un-
like heterosexuals (straights, as they are informally called),

gay’s sexual preference leans towards the same sex. Simply,
gays are attracted to people of the same gender. Being gay

used to be a taboo, an aberration, a perversion. But things are
changing these days. Compared to the past when gays “hid in

the closets”, they are being tolerated and even welcomed these
days. Many gays are “coming out” and expressing their sexual identity. Even Korea recog-

nized a transgender, Harisu, as female. In some western countries, gays are recognized as
the “Third sex”, and are being admitted to previously sacrosanct fields as the military and

even the Catholic priesthood. Despite their increasing acceptance to mainstream society,

many people dislike gays. Dislike is a mild word since others feel a more intense feeling:
abhorrence, disgust, homophobia. The reason for these feelings is based on the belief that

gays destroy the natural order of things. Says the religious, “God created only two
sexes : male and female”. For others, they think that gay’s unorthodox sexual behavior is the

reason AIDS and other sexual diseases exist. But gays are humans too, others argue. They
have feelings and emotions just like you and I. They contribute to society’s welfare since

many of them are involved in meaningful and productive work: fashion-designers, singers,
entertainers, lawyers.. you name it.

Comprehension

1. What does coming out mean?
2. Why do some religious groups believe that gays destroy the natural order of
things?

Questions

1, What do you think of gays and lesbians?
2. What do you think of transgender and transvestites?
3. What do you think of bisexuals?

Vocabulary & Expressions
controversial: relating to controversy.
punishment: a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
debatable: subject to debate or discussion is possible
reinstate: to restore to previous effective state
heinous: hatefully or shockingly evil
deter: to turn aside or to prevent from acting
capital: involving execution

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