Being Lesbian or Bisexual is NOT a Disease
Being lesbian or bisexual is not a disease, illness, or medical condition—it is a normal variation of human sexuality that requires no treatment. Since 1973, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has explicitly removed homosexuality from its classification of mental illnesses 1.
Medical Consensus on Sexual Orientation
All major medical and mental health organizations—including the American College of Physicians, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and the World Health Organization—recognize that homosexuality and bisexuality are normal variations of human sexuality, not illnesses 1.
Sexual orientation refers to a person's enduring pattern of sexual or romantic desires for persons of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes 1. This is a fundamental aspect of human identity, not a pathological condition.
Why Some People Are Lesbian or Bisexual
The exact causes of sexual orientation are not fully understood, but current scientific understanding indicates that sexual orientation develops through a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed through willpower or external interventions.
There Is No Treatment—And Attempting Treatment Causes Harm
"Conversion," "reorientation," or "reparative" therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation is opposed by all major medical organizations and is harmful 1.
Evidence Against Conversion Therapy:
- The American Psychological Association reviewed 83 studies on efforts to change sexual orientation and found serious methodological flaws in nearly all of them 1
- The only study that met research standards showed no effect on same-sex behavior 1
- There is no scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of conversion therapy 1
Documented Harms of Conversion Therapy:
Attempting to "treat" or change sexual orientation causes significant harm, including 1:
- Increased suicide attempts
- Depression and anxiety
- Loss of sexual feeling
- Higher rates of substance abuse
- Increased risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections
Research from San Francisco State University demonstrated that LGBT youth rejected by their families because of their identity were significantly more likely to attempt suicide, experience depression, use illegal drugs, and engage in high-risk behaviors compared to accepted peers 1.
Legal Recognition of Harm:
Multiple U.S. states (California, New Jersey, Washington DC) have banned conversion therapy for minors due to documented harm, and these bans have been upheld by federal courts 1.
What Actually Needs Treatment
The appropriate medical response is not to treat sexual orientation itself, but to address:
- Mental health disparities that arise from discrimination, stigma, and rejection (not from the orientation itself)
- Depression and anxiety when present
- Substance use disorders if they develop
- Creating supportive, affirming healthcare environments
The focus should be on acceptance, support, and addressing minority stress—not changing who someone is.