BENGALURU: The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), the country’s largest body of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric social workers — around 6,500 of them — have come out with a ‘position statement on homosexuality’ recently stating that homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder.
The statement, issued on July 6, was spurred by the fact that the Supreme Court is debating decriminalising homosexuality. “This is in line with the position of American Psychiatric Association which removed homosexuality from the list of psychiatric disorders in 1973,” the statement said. World Health Organisation had removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases in 1992.
“The IPS recognises same-sex sexuality as a normal variant of human sexuality much like heterosexuality and bisexuality. There is no scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be altered by any treatment and that any such attempt may lead to low self-esteem and stigmatisation of the person. The IPS further supports decriminalisation of homosexual behaviour,” the statement added.
Dr Mahesh Gowda, Assistant Secretary, IPS, Southern Zone, who has been a psychiatrist in the city for 15 years, said 10% of the patients who approach him are those related to sexual orientation. He said when he finds that there is no ambiguity on the part of the individual, he counsels the family instead.
“Those whose families come to us ‘to treat’ homosexuality are mostly in the age group of 16-25. They generally have some early conflicts in life of having been bullied in school about their mannerisms. Families urge us to ‘change’ them and ‘make’ them what they were ‘before’,” Dr Gowda said.It was only last year that IPS formed a task force on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. The task force holds workshops for IPS members on the psychological issues faced by the LGBT community and how to help them cope.
“But the individuals are aware of their rights. One striking similarity among all individuals who come to me is that they are clear about who they are. They feel strongly about their desired sexual orientation. They may seek help for anxiety, depression or addiction because of the stigma that they are made to go through,” he said.