Small Groups: "What is Homosexuality?"
The purpose of this activity is to illustrate the difficulties of trying to define such a complex term.
Instructions:
Divide the participants into groups of 3-4 members.
Give them these instructions:
"You have three minutes to develop a comprehensive definition of homosexuality. Challenge whatever ideas are suggested and try to find something wrong with them. Then suggest a different idea. Appoint someone to take notes and be ready to report your definition to the whole group.
Groups may need a few more minutes to reach a consensus.
Ask each small group to present their definition of homosexuality.
As each group presents its definition, ask for one or two comments from the whole group critiquing the statement. (note: You may need to "poke holes" in each definition if the whole group doesnāt).
During the definition discussion, expect comments and questions such as:
1a. Definition: Homosexuality is when someone loves someone of the same sex.
1b. Critique: But people love their brothers and sisters. Also, you can love friends, but not in a sexual way.
2a. Definition: Homosexuality is when two people of the same gender have sex.
2b. Critique: Many adolescents and college-age adults experiment with same sex relations, but donāt identify themselves as homosexuals. Plus, in prisons, the military, and other environments where there are no persons of the opposite gender available, many people have same-sex relations, yet go on to live exclusively heterosexual lives.
3a. Definition: Homosexuality means two people of the same sex "in love."
3b. Critique: Many people experience very erotic/"in love" feelings for someone of the same sex, but never act on them. Are they gay?
4a. Definition: Itās when people dream and fantasize about having sex with people of the same sex.
4b. Critique: The vast majority of people in this room probably have had dreams or fantasize about having sex with someone of the same gender. Are they homosexual?
5a. Definition: Homosexuality means being sexually attracted to members of the same sex.
5b. Critique: Weād all be surprised at the number of people who fit in this category, but are they all homosexual?
Suggested definitions to use:
- A homosexual is someone "who is motivated in adult life by a preferential erotic attraction to the same sex, and who usually (but not necessarily) engage in overt relations with them (Psychiatrist Judd Marmor).
- Someone who has a continuing erotic preference for and is sexually attracted to partners of the same sex and (usually) chooses to act on those feelings.
Once all groups have presented their ideas, ask them the following:
What are your reactions to this activity? Expect/invite the following comments:
- Some of the definitions were so broad, many heterosexuals could fit under them.
- I never thought you could think you were gay if youāve never had sex with someone of the same gender.
- It was so hard to define it.
Close this activity with summarizing comments such as:
- Itās psychologically harmful to categorize or label people based on limited information or gossip.
- Itās important that people who are exploring their own sexuality be allowed to put names and labels on their own activities and feelings when and if they are ready.
- Donāt we all have a certain amount of sexual or emotional feelings toward people of the same gender? Some just have more than others.