5 ms·

> should we "cure" homosexuality? Homosexuality is also on a spectrum, and at no point does someone on that spectrum stop functioning in society because they’r

> should we "cure" homosexuality? Homosexuality is also on a spectrum, and at no point does someone on that spectrum stop functioning in society because they’re gay. Being gay is only an issue because of those around them, there is nothing to “cure”. The same cannot be said about being high on the ASD scale. Someone high on this scale will have trouble staying alive without a support system, and medicine could be a component of that system.

Scandiravian 2mo ago
For the majority of autistic people (ASD-1), their issues are also solely caused by those around them As I said in my original post that spawned this thread (and I think in one or two other posts as well), people who are ASD-3 is a case where I would hope we could get better treatment options, but I'm worried about the implications such a "cure" would have for the ASD-1 part of the population My question about whether we should cure homosexuality is naturally preposterous, exactly because the issues they face are exclusively caused by their surroundings When the poster I responded cited a high suicide rate among autistic people as support for why a "cure" should be pursued as well as equating it to other "disorders/diseases/illness" in general, I wanted to highlight the absurdity of such a line of reasoning My main point is that shit is complicated. There are people who need and deserve better treatment options, but ignoring how people who have not conformed to societal expectations have been treated throughout history (and in many cases continues to be treated) is foolish and dangerous
- ProfessorLayton 2mo ago
  It’s an absurd comparison because homosexuality is not a disorder. Full stop. It’s a non-sequiter to compare it to something that is. I’m not trying to pick on you for this, but it’s something the LGB community has been trying to get across for a long time. You’re right that it could have implications for ASD-1, and I sympathize, but those higher on the spectrum are also the least able to advocate for themselves. Having another medical option to support them is a good thing.
  - Scandiravian 2mo ago
    Whether something is classified as a disorder is imho irrelevant. In the US homosexuality was classified as a disorder until 1973. As I've said repeatedly, society has the mental disorders it creates In a society where the nuclear family is seen as the highest ideal and the natural state of being, anyone who is not cis and straight will be seen as someone that needs to be changed, which is why homosexuality was considered a disorder When you have a society where capital is king and a lot of people genuinely believe that your personal productivity is a measure of your worth, anyone who do not function in the resulting "hussle-culture" will be seen as someone that will need to be changed Yes, being autistic and homosexual are two completely different things, but treating a social construct, such as a disorder classification as natural law is just as idiotic now as it was in 1970 Whether or not people with ASD-1 are more capable of advocating for themselves is completely irrelevant if our concerns can be dismissed outright by anyone claiming to speak for ASD-3 It shows a complete disregard for the discrimination that is already occurring today which affects every verbal autistic person I know, myself included It's a way to essentially refuse to deal with considerations such as how many people with an ASD-1 diagnosis should we as a society accept being treated, not because they actually want the treatment for themselves, but because they're subjected to social control
    - ProfessorLayton 2mo ago
      > Whether something is classified as a disorder is imho irrelevant. Homosexuality was classified as a disorder until 1973. As I've said repeatedly, society has the mental disorders it creates. I believe where we’re drifting apart is that ASD *not* just a social construct. Higher levels of ASD are demonstrably more difficult or even impossible to deal without a support system. This is not the case with homosexuality, where society simply has to stop marginalizing them for liking who they like . There is no issue with being “too gay” that society didn’t create. Someone at the high-end of the ASD spectrum simply cannot thrive without support. I’m very much in support of those with ASD1, and do not wish to “fix” them or even think there’s something fix in the first place. However, they’re also the most able to advocate for themselves. We can’t forget the ones that truly need help, and medicine can be one avenue for that.

Scandiravian 2mo ago

For the majority of autistic people (ASD-1), their issues are also solely caused by those around them As I said in my original post that spawned this thread (and I think in one or two other posts as well), people who are ASD-3 is a case where I would hope we could get better treatment options, but I'm worried about the implications such a "cure" would have for the ASD-1 part of the population My question about whether we should cure homosexuality is naturally preposterous, exactly because the issues they face are exclusively caused by their surroundings When the poster I responded cited a high suicide rate among autistic people as support for why a "cure" should be pursued as well as equating it to other "disorders/diseases/illness" in general, I wanted to highlight the absurdity of such a line of reasoning My main point is that shit is complicated. There are people who need and deserve better treatment options, but ignoring how people who have not conformed to societal expectations have been treated throughout history (and in many cases continues to be treated) is foolish and dangerous

ProfessorLayton 2mo ago
It’s an absurd comparison because homosexuality is not a disorder. Full stop. It’s a non-sequiter to compare it to something that is. I’m not trying to pick on you for this, but it’s something the LGB community has been trying to get across for a long time. You’re right that it could have implications for ASD-1, and I sympathize, but those higher on the spectrum are also the least able to advocate for themselves. Having another medical option to support them is a good thing.
- Scandiravian 2mo ago
  Whether something is classified as a disorder is imho irrelevant. In the US homosexuality was classified as a disorder until 1973. As I've said repeatedly, society has the mental disorders it creates In a society where the nuclear family is seen as the highest ideal and the natural state of being, anyone who is not cis and straight will be seen as someone that needs to be changed, which is why homosexuality was considered a disorder When you have a society where capital is king and a lot of people genuinely believe that your personal productivity is a measure of your worth, anyone who do not function in the resulting "hussle-culture" will be seen as someone that will need to be changed Yes, being autistic and homosexual are two completely different things, but treating a social construct, such as a disorder classification as natural law is just as idiotic now as it was in 1970 Whether or not people with ASD-1 are more capable of advocating for themselves is completely irrelevant if our concerns can be dismissed outright by anyone claiming to speak for ASD-3 It shows a complete disregard for the discrimination that is already occurring today which affects every verbal autistic person I know, myself included It's a way to essentially refuse to deal with considerations such as how many people with an ASD-1 diagnosis should we as a society accept being treated, not because they actually want the treatment for themselves, but because they're subjected to social control
  - ProfessorLayton 2mo ago
    > Whether something is classified as a disorder is imho irrelevant. Homosexuality was classified as a disorder until 1973. As I've said repeatedly, society has the mental disorders it creates. I believe where we’re drifting apart is that ASD *not* just a social construct. Higher levels of ASD are demonstrably more difficult or even impossible to deal without a support system. This is not the case with homosexuality, where society simply has to stop marginalizing them for liking who they like . There is no issue with being “too gay” that society didn’t create. Someone at the high-end of the ASD spectrum simply cannot thrive without support. I’m very much in support of those with ASD1, and do not wish to “fix” them or even think there’s something fix in the first place. However, they’re also the most able to advocate for themselves. We can’t forget the ones that truly need help, and medicine can be one avenue for that.