DSM
Prior to 1973, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) treated homosexuality as a mental disorder. Specifically:
DSM-I (1952): Homosexuality was classified under the category of "Sociopathic Personality Disturbances" and described as a sexual deviation. This classification reflected the prevailing attitudes of the time, which pathologized homosexuality as a deviant behavior.
DSM-II (1968): Homosexuality was moved to the category of "Sexual Deviations," but it was still considered a mental disorder. The focus remained on viewing same-sex attraction as an abnormality needing treatment.
Change in 1973: In December 1973, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), following significant scientific research, advocacy from LGBTQ+ groups, and internal debate, voted to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder from the DSM. It was replaced with a new category, "Sexual Orientation Disturbance," to refer to individuals who experienced distress about their sexual orientation. This change reflected growing evidence that homosexuality is a natural variation of human sexuality rather than a pathology.
Subsequent Changes: In 1987, "Sexual Orientation Disturbance" was also removed entirely from the DSM-III-R, affirming that distress about sexual orientation was not inherent to homosexuality itself but rather influenced by societal stigma and discrimination.
The removal of homosexuality from the DSM marked a pivotal shift in the medical and cultural understanding of sexual orientation, paving the way for greater acceptance and equality.