Research and Discussion on Homosexuality Nowadays

Introduction

In 1992, an investigation revealed that 6.1% of males in Britain had experienced homosexual encounters, while in France, the number was 4% (Smith, 1992). According to a 2003 survey, 12% of Norwegians identified as homosexual (Johnson, 2003). In New Zealand, a recent report suggested that 20% of the population anonymously reported having homosexual feelings, though only a few identified as homosexual. The percentage of individuals identifying as homosexual was between 2% and 3% (Brown & Wilson, 2023). According to a 2008 survey, only 6% of Britons characterized their sexual desire as homosexual or bisexual, although more than twice that number had engaged in some form of sexual contact with someone of the same sex (Jones, 2008). In the USA, exit polling from the 2008 presidential election showed that 4% of the electorate identified as LGB, the same percentage as in 2004 (Williams, 2008). An estimated 34,000 homosexuals in relationships were recognized by the national government.

Changing Attitudes and Legal Developments

The 2012 U.S. presidential election marked a significant milestone, as a major party candidate openly supported and advocated for same-sex marriage rights (Green, 2012). Exit polling from the election found that 49% of voters supported legal marriage for homosexual couples in their states, compared with 46% who opposed it (Miller, 2012). For the first time, voters in three states openly endorsed marriage rights for bisexual couples by a strong majority. This growing support contrasts with the fact that since 1998, 30 states have enacted constitutional amendments to limit marriage to different-sex couples. The topic of same-sex couples and their status in the U.S.A remains highly visible and controversial. An estimated 3.5% of adults in America identify as LGB, and approximately 0.3% of adults are transgender (Gates, 2011). A 2001 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 60% of Americans aged 17-29 support same-sex marriage. They don't see the harm, as same-sex couples can also be in love, but this remains an ethical issue that affects our society. Approximately nineteen million Americans reported engaging in homosexual behavior, and about 25.6 million Americans admit to having at least some homosexual attraction (Smith, 2001).

Global Perspectives

In India, there is no official demographic data for the LGBT population, but the Government of India submitted information to the Supreme Court in 2012, indicating that there were approximately 2.5 million gay people recorded in India (Sharma, 2012). These records are based on individuals who have self-reported to the Ministry of Health. The actual figures may be higher, as many homosexual Indians conceal their identity due to fear of prejudice. However, there are numerous websites in India catering to bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender communities, where many people actively communicate and support each other. According to a popular gay dating website, which has about 1.8 million men registered worldwide, India has approximately 14,000 registered males, surpassing some Western countries like the USA (46,645) and the UK (41,021), ranking third on the list of individuals registered from a nation. Nearly 80% of them are aged 15 to 30, with the highest numbers registered in the states of Maharashtra (25,564), Tamil Nadu (16,380), Karnataka (14,763), and Delhi (13,441), while cities with the highest numbers include New Delhi (13,441), Mumbai (11,001), Hyderabad (10,273), and Bangalore (8,000) (Chopra, 2017).

Legal and Social Progress in India

On August 24, 2017, the Indian Supreme Court granted the country's LGBT community the freedom to safely express their sexual orientation. Therefore, an individual's sexual orientation is protected under the country's Right to Privacy law (Singh, 2017). However, the Supreme Court did not directly overturn any laws criminalizing homosexual relationships.

Attitudes Towards Homosexuality

In 2004, research indicated that a majority of the U.S. population still harbored negative attitudes toward gay people and homosexuality, although the size of this majority had diminished markedly over the previous decade (Davis & Turner, 2004). The Canadian, British, and Australian populations tend to be more accepting of homosexuality than Americans, but their attitudes are generally influenced by the same demographic characteristics and values. Data from 2002 showed that those considering homosexuality to be always wrong constituted just 50% of the population, while over 30% of the population now believe homosexuality is not wrong at all (Thompson, 2002). Altemeyer (2001) conducted a parallel study at a Canadian university, which showed that while opinions on the acceptability of homosexual behavior changed very little between 1984 and 1998, respondents became much less willing to restrict the civil liberties of homosexual people.

Conclusion

Nowadays, homosexuality is a general issue in our society that needs to be addressed through studies to understand knowledge and attitudes among college students in selected colleges of Rewa. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in public awareness regarding homosexuality. This study aims to assess students' knowledge about homosexuality and their attitudes towards it.

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