Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

With the passage of time, the acceptance of same-sex relationships in our society has increased. On March 12, Flair's Sex and Relationship feature looked at the topic, 'Can homosexuals be cured?' This generated a lot of debate among the homosexual community. Below are excerpts from the feature.

Jamaica is considered to be a highly homophobic society, but in recent times, more homosexuals have been 'coming out' of the closet.

In February, there was wide-ranging discussion after a number of homosexual commercial sex workers spoke out on a current affairs television programme. Many viewers were astonished that they were so bold, while others were angry. Others felt a sense of compassion, believing that homosexuals were 'sick' and needed help.

Clinical psychologist, Dr. Asquith Reid, said whether a homosexual can be cured depends on how you define it. "If you look at it from a religious perspective where homosexuality is seen as wrong and a sin, then certainly, they can be cured.

"If it's a matter of choice, then you can choose to or not to engage in such practices. But if you think it is biological, then it would be hard to change."

Other view

Chris, 24, is a commercial sex worker who sells his body to men. He is from an inner-city community in Kingston. When Flair asked him if he believed homosexuals could be 'cured', his immediate response was, "Yes. I was not born like this."

"I believe that homosexuals can be cured because we were not born like this. It is just the mentality, and often a homosexual is like a child who sees certain things and wants a certain lifestyle."

Reaction

After the feature hit the papers on March 12, many readers lashed out and emails poured in. Below is one response:

First of all, sexuality and sexual desires are not things that people acquire, develop or catch along the way. They are innate. They are part of our psychological and emotional make-up. In essence, a homosexual man has absolutely no sexual desire for women.

In the same way a straight man was born with desires for females, a gay man was born with desires for men. Sexuality can't be learned. Just like hunger, sex is a natural need. Nobody can teach a man to be gay or straight. Ask a straight man if anybody taught him to have an erection for a woman, and he will tell you no. Ask a gay man if anybody taught him to have an erection when he sees an attractive man and he will definitely say, no way, José!

In response to Chris' view, what he doesn't understand is the difference between being gay and living a whoring life. So, when he speaks about change, it's not change from being gay to straight. It's about a change of lifestyle, that is, stop having sex with men for money. But, if he is truly gay, his desires for men will never change.

So, to answer that question, no, there is no cure, because there is no need for one.

Nobody but a gay man knows the unspeakable pleasure that two men derive from being entangled in a passionate embrace.