Although most of us consider homosexuality as a perfectly normal, acceptable identity, a small minority of people still consider it as a mental illness; something to be cured. Up until 1990 the World Health Organisation classed homosexuality as a mental disorder.
And, although things are certainly more progressive when it comes to the way we see identities and sexual orientations, cures for homosexuality are still far too common. Cures that take place now include ‘therapy’ which is usually led by religious followers and aims to rid the patient of the sin by telling them that homosexuality will send them to hell and in some places there are even ‘corrective’ rapes.
During the 20th century, these sorts of cures and beliefs were more prevalent which is why one concerned parent sent a letter to renowned psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, begging him for help. But, as Freud’s response suggested, he didn’t feel that homosexuality was anything to be worried about.
“I gather from your letter that your son is a homosexual. I am most impressed by the fact that you do not mention this term yourself in your information about him. May I question you why you avoid it? Homosexuality is assuredly no advantage, but it is nothing to be ashamed of, no vice, no degradation; it cannot be classified as an illness; we consider it to be a variation of the sexual function, produced by a certain arrest of sexual development.
Many highly respectable individuals of ancient and modern times have been homosexuals, several of the greatest men among them. (Plato, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, etc). It is a great injustice to persecute homosexuality as a crime – and a cruelty, too. If you do not believe me, read the books of Havelock Ellis.”
Freud also explained that when it comes to ‘cures’ for homosexuality, “the result of treatment cannot be predicted.”
It’s a shame that people didn’t pay attention to Freud when the letter was written in 1935 as clearly he was ahead of his time, but hopefully now that the letter is on display at the Museum of Sexology in London (as part of its Wellcome Collection), Freud’s words will be able to encourage more accepting viewpoints.
