American society tends to stigmatize the homosexual orientation. Although the world of sex, gender, and sexual orientation is complex, most people simply do not like homosexuals. Whitam says that parents, as a rule, are unhappy with homosexual children. No one is immune. We simply do not prepare parents for the possibility that they may have gay or lesbian children.
Attitudes differ throughout the world.
Whitam is impressed with the Filipino attitude toward homosexuals. They are extremely tolerant. Sexual orientation is explained as Nature's way. Whitam says that the overwhelming attitude in Russia toward homosexuals is very repressive. Countries with an Anglo-Saxon heritage are somewhat more lenient, but still repressive to a large degree.