Ego dystonic homosexuality

The term Ego-dystonic homosexuality could be found in the DSM-III as a term used to describe someone who was struggling with sexuality. The two criteria stated that "A) The individual complains that a persistent pattern of absent or weak heterosexual arousal significantly interferes with initiating or maintaining wanted heterosexual relationships and B) There is a sustained pattern of homosexual arousal that the individual explicitly complains is unwanted and a source of distress". There is much debate as to whether this diagnosis was homophobic in its root or genuinely attempting to describe someone who's thoughts around unwanted sexual desires were pathological. It is known now that a subtype of obessive compulsive disorder is sexual OCD, where a person has intrusive thoughts that attempt to destabilize their view of their sexual orientation, casting self-doubt about their attractions. According to this past diagnosis, it was discerned as pathological when a person was seriously contemplating changing their sex preferences due to this struggle and discomfort. This was a diagnosis that would have likely allowed someone entry into a psychiatric hospital or attempts of a major religious institution to "pray the gay away".

This "disorder" was homophobic, an excuse for medical professionals to treat individuals for being queer. People who are distressed by their sexuality are most likely distressed because they have a society or religion that continues to reaffirm that what they are experiencing is wrong. It was during this time period in the 60s-70s that this diagnosis could be used to implement aversion therapy, where it was highly pushed that a patient build heterosexual arousal and decrease homosexual attractions. It was not until 1987 when the DSM was revised that this dianosis was taken out, officially taking out a way to pathologize homosexuality completely. However, at this time, gender identity disorder was still a term included in the DSM-III and would remain there until the DSM-5, inciting that there was a longer road towards progress in trans rights.

With a removal from the DSM, it does not mean that homosexuality is no longer pathologized by medical professionals. In 2013 a man by the name of Matthew Jones was seen by a doctor who diagnosed him as having "homosexual behavior" as a longstanding medical problem, upon a simple check up for blood pressure. Jones did not only sue his doctor, but the medical provider company she worked under, as that diagnosis had been sitting in his medical file for years without him knowing. It is clear that there are some medical professionals, not just in the therapy field, that will view homosexuality as a defect of the human psyche.

Further reading

Ego-dystonic homosexuality

Ego-dystonic heterosexuality: a case study

The diagnostic status of homosexuality in DSM-III: a reformulation of the issues

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0010440X80900887
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/372286
3. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/14/man-sues-doctor-for-listing-homosexuality-as-chronic-condition-in-his-medical-records/