Homosexuality is not fully normal

Editor-Balaji Ravichandran's article illustrates the Indian philosophy about sex.¹ Sexual relationships and behaviour are different in India compared with many other countries. In India, people are not comfortable talking openly about sex.

Indian teachers are reluctant to teach about the genitals. The socially sensitive areas, such as women's breasts and the male and female external genital organs, are not taught with the same enthusiasm as for the other regions of the body. Often teachers don't explain them properly or explain them quickly to get it over with. I have taught Indian, Malaysian, and American students. Irrespective of nationality, students are uncomfortable discussing the genital organs.

Homosexuality is not fully normal, but it is not abnormal. Actually, nature has provided each organ for a specific purpose. If you use that organ for a different purpose, you are either abnormal or desperate. Food, sex, and shelter are the primary instincts of all animals. Food is for the survival of the individual, and sex is for the survival of the progeny. The pleasure in sex is a bribe of nature to drive the animal to reproduce. Reproduction is possible only when opposite sexes mate. If it were a difficult and painful process, then animals wouldn't reproduce.

Homosexuality is an alternative method to suppress sexual desire. You can compare this to breathing through the mouth when the nose is blocked. Normal and abnormal behaviours of animals are also based on what percentage of animals behaves that way. If a large majority does something and you do something different then people call you abnormal.

Medical students should understand that teachers are also human beings. They should behave in the same way as for other classes so that the teachers feel comfortable in teaching such issues without reluctance or shyness.

1. Ravichandran B. Straight outta India. studentBMJ 2005;13:259. (June.)