Those who are halves of a male whole pursue males, and being slices, so to speak of the male, love men throughout their boyhood, and take pleasure in physical contact with men. Such boys and lads are the best of their generation, because they are the most manly (Isay 11).

Once family or friends discover the meaning of homosexuality, they can be successful in meeting the challenge of integrating a gay family member or friend by using positive thinking and therapy.

The most used definition of homosexuality is: "sexual orientation toward people of the same sex." Homosexual men have a prevalent erotic attraction to other men. Their sexual fantasies are mostly directed toward other men, and have been so since childhood. A man doesn't have to engage in sexual activity to be a homosexual. Sometimes pressure from society or inner conflict may inhibit sexual behavior. Men who have homosexual contacts but, because of pressure from society or inner conflict, or both, can't accept that they are gay, are also homosexual. Some men may not even have conscious access to their homoerotic fan

families currently seeking therapy for the "coming out" transition to find a therapist with a positive attitude toward homosexuality (Isay).

tasies because they repress, suppress, or deny them. Their fantasies become more available to them during a properly conducted analysis or therapy, and they are also considered to be homosexual (Isay). "According to the American Psychological Association homosexuality 'is simply the way a minority of our population expresses human love and sexuality" (Shepherd).

seem unknown. They sometimes feel that their past relationship with that family member has been deceitful. "Families worry about their own fit and may struggle with a new sense of marginality, vulnerability, and stigmatization" (Beeler and DiProva). Faced with the unknown, some families seek professional help to "cure" homosexual family members.

Disclosure about one's homosexuality has a number of effects on the family. First, it brings discourse on sexuality into the family. In disclosing, a family member is identifying with a group of which his family may have little knowledge other than misinformation and they may not understand. The family may suddenly find it difficult to identify with their "now gay" son (or brother); their family member may suddenly

Homosexuality is not a disease or disorder; there is nothing to cure. A few therapists claim that they can change their client's sexual orientation (from homosexual to heterosexual)

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Approximate Word count = 981
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)