Interview with Assistant Professor of Department of Psychology

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Our group project, “Acceptance of Gays”, discuss about acceptance of gay marriage in american society and their civil rights at present. Is it good or bad for churches? According to our group’s survey, there is one person said that gay is a kind of psycho disease. The answer make me interest that gay is a kind of disease or not.

Then I desired to interview Dr. Fischer, Assistant Professor of Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She doesn’t against gay marriage and think that it is very good for churches. I asked her that can homosexuality cause a social or family problem. She didn’t think that homosexuality can be a problem for society or family. She said that “the only concern would be prejudice against lesbian, gay, or bisexual people that is a social problem”. I asked her about my doubts that gay is a kind of disease or not. She said that there is absolutely no scientific evidence suggesting that gay is a disease, “homosexuality and bisexuality are just kinds of normal human sexuality”. She also suggest that every kind of people (homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual) can have problems that need psychotherapy. However psychotherapy unrelated to their sexuality. She mention that the situation about “Gay Acceptance” is getting better in Illinois, “Some legal protection was put into force last year that make it illegal to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation”.

In addition, I talked with Chuck, graduated student in Department of Psychology, with the same questions I asked Dr, Fisher. Chuck told me that he didn’t think that to be gay is a disease, it’s just lifestyle and they don’t need any therapy because of they are gays. However, some of them may need counseling psychologist to uanderstand if they have be defenced by their family and society.

In my opinion, I agree with Dr. Fisher and Chuck that homosexuality is not a disease. As I have discussed in my article that “No one can choose what they were born but everyone can choose what they want to be”. To be homosexual is just their lives until they didn’t trouble somebody. I don’t think that homosexual is different from heterosexual. We are the same

– WE ARE HUMAN – .

Chamaporn

Special Survey

We surveyed 27 Americans about gay marriage. We asked four questions which are: 1- Are you in a favor of gay marriage? 2- Do you think gays should have the same civil right as heterosexuals? 3- Do you think gay marriage would be good or bad for the churches? Why? 4- Why do you think acceptance of gays is increasing now? We asked students, teachers, and gay people at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Most people agreed with gay marriage because it's a free world and everyone can choose what they want. However, some people think that gay marriage is not natural for humankind. Moreover, majority of people think gay should have the same civil rights as heterosexuals because gay people get sick sometimes, after all, they are human. Furthermore, all people said that it depends on the churches and some felt that it would be really for the churches because in the bible gay marriage is a sin. Acceptance of gays is increasing now because of media and publication. We noticed that some people say that it's not increasing, that really surprised us. In conclusion, it' a fact that gay marriage is being accepted more and more by the people especially in the new generation. I become really interested in the subject.

Therefore, I made special survey for me. I asked cesl’s teacher about their opinions. I observed 9 teachers. 6 of them agree with gay marriages. The rest of the teachers who are against gay’s marriage are elderly. As Mehren said “These young Americans were more than four times as likely to support same-sex marriage as those over 65, the poll found.” (April 11, 2oo4)

After I did my survey, I become exciting to know more about this subject. I was looking for people who agree and who disagree about gay marriage. I was trying to find people from both sides. I was asking a lot of people about this subject while I was looking for someone who has strong opinion.

I found woman who has very strong opinion about gay marriage. Her name is Amy. First, I ask her whether she is in a favor of gay marriage and why? She replaces that she against gay marriage because her religion is against it. Then, I told her what will she do if her child is gay? She says I will love them, and I will pray for them. Also, she mentions that excepting of gay marriage is not increasing, but the community of gay is strong. The media show us it increasing, yet the truth is not.

On other hand, I was looking for someone who supports gay marriage. I found few people I give to them my e-mail address and my cell phone number, but I didn’t reactive any calls. I was concerned to talk and hear their view and believe. I hope in the future I can find someone, and I am sure I will find.

Gay marriage is one of the big arguments in the U.S. it is actually interesting to see the development of the gay marriage. Before 20 years, nobody talks about this subject. I can tell that in the future the government will allow gay marriage. In my opinion, the government shouldn’t control gay marriage. The U.S is free country. Every one his life is his responsibility. I know it is against Christianity, but the law in the U.S is not based in religion.



By Mohammed Ali

Interviewed with two Americans who have opposite opinions

I interviewed two Americans who have opposite opinions by e-mail. I asked them “what do you think gays?” One guy said following things. She strongly agrees with gay marriage. Gays are everywhere even though they are teachers, classmates, friends and relatives. This idea is more common today. Some churches already accept gay marriage. She also think she tries to support them. On the other hand, the other guy whose major is psychology said gay is kind of psychology disease. It is difficult to recover, but they can be recovered, if we do effective treatment to them. Gays are unnatural. Treatment is more important than acceptance gays.

Before I interviewed I thought we should accept gay marriage like former. Gays desire same-sex marriage same as we desire marriage. This is natural behavior for gays and like us. We can’t say anything to their emotion. I think it is their freedom, and they have the rights. But after the interview my mind is changed. I didn’t have the idea that gay is kind of psychology disease. I thought if they can be recovered by counseling it is more important than acceptance gays. There are various idea of gays, I don’t know the best way what we should do. I also consider about this problem from now on.

Hiroto

Interview with a gay

I did a short interview with a gay man at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

First, I asked him about the reasons that he became gay. He replied that this is his nature and there's nothing he can do about it and he felt that it's a normal thing. Second, I asked him if he thinks that gay marriage is normal, what about the heterosexuals. He said every person choose the way that he like for living his life, I told him that I agree with him. Third, I asked him about the reaction of his family, friends, and the people who know him. He answered that most of them were open-minded. However, his father got really angry with him and he told him that he couldn't stay in the same house with him as long as he's gay and his mother had sympathy of him. Then I asked him if he thinks that gay marriage is increasing. He said that he agrees with this and I asked him to list some reasons for that and he answred that the media in TV, newspapers, and magazines made it easy for gay people to go in public. Finally, I asked him if he ever had children, would he prefer if they were homosexuals or heterosexuals? He said that he's not thinking of this right now but if he had children one day he will let them choose their way in life.

In my opinion, this guy was really nice and realistic. I'm from a country where it's forbidden to have gay marriage and actually if the government finds out that there's a gay couple, they will have a serious punishment. So, after talking to him I think he convinced me that gay marriage is a fact nowadays and there's nothing we can do about it, we just have to live with it.

Samah Ali

Group's Survey

We surveyed 27 Americans about gay marriage. We asked four questions which are:

1- Are you in a favor of gay marriage?

2- Do you think gays should have the same civil right as heterosexuals?

3- Do you think gay marriage would be good or bad for the churches? Why?

4- Why do you think acceptance of gays is increasing now?

We asked students, teachers, and gay people at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Most people agreed with gay marriage because it's a free world and everyone can choose what they want.

However, some people think that gay marriage is not natural for humankind.

Moreover, majority of people think gay should have the same civil rights as heterosexuals because gay people get sick sometimes and, after all, they are human.

Furthermore, all people said that it depends on the churches and some felt that it would be really for the churches because in the bible gay marriage is a sin.

Acceptance of gays is increasing now because of media and publication.

We noticed that some people say that it's not increasing, that really surprised us.

In conclusion, it' a fact that gay marriage is being accepted more and more by the people especially in the new generation.

All the group ..

Acceptance of Gays Rises Among New Generation

According to the article "Acceptance of Gays Rises Among New Generation" , people become except gays more than they were except them in the past. The author thinks American almost know somebody who is gay. Elizabeth Mehren believes that gays are feeling more comfortable in society, and also society is feeling more comfortable with gay people. She says young people more support of gay marriage than older people. Moreover, most elderly people don’t like watch T.V with homosexual characters. She also proves that most people don’t like their children to be gay or lesbian even though they are excepting the idea of being gay or lesbian. Finally, The article shows us that people argue about gay is something people are born with or it is something that develops because of the way people are grow up.

Gay marriage is one of the hottest topic in the U.S. it is really interesting topic. I become engrossed in this subject after I read many articles. However, the article “Acceptance of Gays Rises Among New Generation” is very much helpful and useful. It shows us a lot of things about gay marriage. Finally, I am extremely exciting about what will happen in the future. I want to see if the government will allow the gay marriage or not.

Mohammed Ali

Gay Marriage Ban

The author talks about the law of gay marriage in U.S in "US Senate blocks gay marriage ban" on BBC NEWS. The law of gay marriage has been talked in US Senate. Actually, some state allowed gay marriage. But it is very few, so President Bush and people who support him try to amend the law for gays and lesbians. On the other hand, there are many people who object to change the law in U.S.

First, I was really surprised that there are many gay people and the law of gay marriage is big problem in U.S. Because I rarely heard about gay and lesbian people in Japan, and I had never considered gay marriage until I came here, U.S. I think we should accept gay marriage. Gays and lesbians desire same-sex marriage same as we desire marriage. This is natural behavior for gays and lesbians like us. We don't have rights to say to them, "Don't love same-sex people." I think it is their freedom, and they have the rights.

Hiroto

Acceptance of Gay

James Recci and Patricia Ward Biederman in “Acceptance of Gays on Rise, Poll Show” are discussing the fact that the community is becoming more opened to the idea of homosexuality. Over the past decades, people declined gays in the society. However, the number of people who accept gays is increasing. According to the article, acceptance of gays is similar to the black civil right movement in many ways. The influences of media and famous politicians had helped the society to admit the issue of gays. All what homosexuals demand is to be treated as normal people by the society.

People choose the path that will make them satisfied about them selves. If those people chose to be gays, they are free and this is their business. However, they will have to be careful of the consequences and they should be willing to face all the barriers in this way. Not all the people will look at them as normal couple. But eventually the community will have to accept homosexuality.

Samah Ali

Acceptance of gay marriage growing in State of Califoria

According to the article "Acceptance of gay marriage growing in State of Califoria", Half of california voters accept same-sex marriage.In the past , people did not support these things , but now 50% 0f peopledo not disapproved the same-sex marriage. Opinions can change over time, but they can not be changed quickly. However,some people state that same- sex marrage is rights of people and everyone want to do whatevever he want,and it is not fedralgovernment business. Younger voters appear mor accepting than older voters for same-sex marrage.

In my ipinions, the best thing that President Bush do in his life is that he pans the same-sex marrage. Gays and lesbians aretrying to chang the style of life. The government should treat these people because I think that some of them have problemsin their childhood .

MISFER

Gays & American Religions

I read this article “Acceptance of Gays in Major American Religions” by Icestryke in Culture on which appeared on May 24, 2005.

It was about The American religions argue that homosexuals should be accepted by religions or not. In 11th to 12th centuries, homosexuality is accepted by Chistian socirty. There are gays everywhere in art, poetry, music, and history. However, at present, Fundamentalist Chistians and American culture still oppose homosexual and bisexual especially in conservative people. The same concerning between religion and science is about the effects of homosexuality to human evolution in future.

According to the article, I think that homosexuality is one of the biggest issues in social today. If we look at the sciencetific view point about human evolution, homosexuality is our problem that we should pay attention. Because if population of homosexual increase continuously, the population growth rate possibly shrink. However, this is just an assuming, we don’t exactly know what will happen in future. In my opinion, I don’t think that homosexuality is a problem. As long as homosexuals wouldn’t break law, kill or hurt someone, steal, or trouble with somebody, they should be accepted to live in society normally. No one can choose what they were born but everyone can choose what they will be. Many homosexuals can do their jobs efficiency and have responsibity to society. I have many gays friend that are so gentle, kindness, and helpful to women and they are still good advicer. Those reasons make me not against gays or any homosexuals. Although I can accepted homosexuals, I still disagree with men or women who changed to be homosexuals by following fashion, a momentary slip of emotion, or just want to feel differrent. I would not decied that homosexuality should be accepted by religions or not because this issues need carefully decision. But I suggest that we should be accepted that homosexuals are normal people like us.

What do think ? Can you accept gays? And if your family have gays, can you accept?

Chamaporn

Opening

Acceptance of Gays.

Group Project for CESL EAP2 : Newstalk class term 063

Members : Mohammed, Hiroto, Misfer, Samah, Chamaporn