The gift of being gay [View All]

[kweerwolf]

(Interesting column from The Advocate)

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The course led me to further investigation via the Internet, which turned up some interesting supporting ideas. Canadian neuroscientist Todd Murphy builds on previous research revealing a larger anterior commissure in the brains of gay men than in those of straight men and women. Since this structure connects the two sides of the amygdala—strong emotional centers in the brain—Murphy postulates that gay men thus have a stronger ability to recognize other people and how they feel, and that gay men are better able to perceive emotional meaning.

Murphy speculates, “Gay men were probably our first spiritual leaders.... Gay men may once have healed their people, led them spiritually, soothed interpersonal conflicts, and helped them anticipate and avoid threats to survival.” He goes on, “A 100% heterosexual population might well have gone extinct.”

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Is there really a gift in being gay? Is there something special we have to offer society as gay men? One could argue that the psyche of the traditional straight male has focused on outer action, getting things done and protecting the home. Meanwhile, the traditional female psyche is associated with nurturing and relationships. Both orientations are needed for societies to flourish. Some psychologists and spiritual teachers argue that the mature human psyche of either gender demonstrates a creative balance of “masculine” and “feminine” energies in the individual. Similarly, a gay orientation may represent a creative mix of the two, with its own special gifts.

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid19948.asp