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Summary: The Homosexual Stereotyping (Press, 25 November 1978)
The article, written by John Wilson and published on 25 November 1978, discusses the damaging stereotypes surrounding homosexuals in New Zealand. It highlights that homosexuals are often depicted in a negative light as driven by sexual impulses, promiscuous, and psychologically troubled. This common portrayal suggests they are incapable of forming stable relationships and are more likely to involve children in sexual situations. Wilson points out that these stereotypes were recently reaffirmed in letters to "The Press", but they were contested by homosexuals and those familiar with them. A pivotal reference in the article is the book "Homosexualities" by Alan Bell and Martin Weinberg, recognised as a significant contribution to homosexual studies, analogous to Alfred Kinsey’s earlier work. This book, based on extensive interviews conducted in 1970 in San Francisco, aims to debunk existing stereotypes by illustrating the diversity of homosexual experiences. The research involved hundreds of homosexual individuals from various backgrounds, who answered 528 questions regarding their sexual behaviours, lifestyles, and the impact of their homosexuality on various aspects of their lives. The findings indicate that there are multiple types of homosexuals — including close coupled, open coupled, and functional homosexuals — which challenges the simplified negative categorizations. Overall, the study shows that most homosexuals are comparable to their heterosexual counterparts in non-sexual aspects of life. While some homosexuals face challenges, these difficulties are not significantly different from those encountered by dysfunctional heterosexuals. The article concludes by emphasising that once distinctions among homosexuals are made, the often negative comparisons with heterosexuals become invalid. Importantly, it notes that the portrayal of homosexuals as universally troubled is no longer defensible. Wilson highlights the relevance of this research in the context of the gay liberation movement in the United States facing setbacks, and in New Zealand, where legal reforms regarding homosexual rights are being resisted. Although no similar study has been conducted within New Zealand, Wilson believes the findings from the San Francisco study would likely resonate with New Zealand's homosexual community as well.
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