Relação entre a orientação sexual dos homossexuais (gays e lésbicas) e a orientação sexual de seus familiares

Abstract

This study has the general objective to understand the relationship between the sexual orientation of homosexuals (gays and lesbians) and the sexual orientation of their relatives. We assume that can’t dissociate familiar and social aspects when looking at the sexual orientation of homosexuals. We had as theoretical support the perspective of Social Construction of the Reality of Berger and Luckmann (2004). The data shows that process of perception of the sexual orientation of homosexuals does not occur homogeneously, with those homosexuals who said that they occurred very early, still in their infancy. For others, the process of perception of their sexual orientation occurred later, after some kind of stimulation, an affective contact with people of the same sex. Perceptions about whether or not homosexuality is a sexual option are homogeneous, insofar as homosexuals (gays and lesbians) claim not to be a sexual option, but inherent in their person, and that it has naturally revealed itself as they have grown. However, they realize that the choice was to socially assume their sexual orientation, not sexual desires. In some cases, the sexual orientation of homosexuals can be understood taking into account their family, because there are repeated patterns of relational patterns, that is, as to homosexual orientation. Thus, we perceive that not only the social context influences the sexual orientation of homosexuals, but also, the family context influences their sexual orientation. We conclude that, although sexual orientation is not options for homosexuals, factors such as cultural values are present at the moment of homosexual decision-making or not.