One of the cards in the gallery walk read:
“To deny ones sexuality is to kill ones soul” As a straight man, I do not see this. I’d love to see someone defend this.
Hiding such an important aspect of yourself as your emotional and sexual attachments -- or suffering great losses for not hiding them -- creates deep-seated shame, anger, internalized hatred, and isolation. You are attacked, hated, and discriminated against just for being who you are.
LGB (Lesbian, gay, bisexual) people are in a double bind – “denying ones sexuality kills the soul.” When a person denies their own sexuality, represses it, they are cut off from essential human needs: acceptance, connection, community, understanding, support, acknowledgement, wholeness, authenticity, integrity, self-expression, as well as loving, romantic ties and sexual expression.
When an LGB person chooses to ‘come out’ and live an honest, open life, “denying ones sexuality kills the soul” still applies– except this time it is the wider society that is denying her/his sexuality. This also compromises basic human needs: almost all the needs listed above, as well as receiving respect, having self-respect and self-esteem, and feeling physically and emotionally safe.
So yes, it is damaging to ones humanity/soul when ones sexuality is denied.
-Kelsey
