Sexual Orientation Over Time
Although this chapter presents sexual orientation as belonging to one of three categories—homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual—clearly sexual feelings, sexual behaviors, and sexual orientation may vary over time.
As Kinsey found, sexual behavior ranges over a continuum from sexual activity with people of the same sex exclusively to sexual activity with people of the opposite sex exclusively, and most people’s behavior falls somewhere in between. Sexual orientation also follows the same continuum—from sexual interest in people of the same sex exclusively to sexual interest in people of the opposite sex exclusively.
The mapping of sexual orientation over time has not been well studied. It seems that most people have a fairly stable and fixed sexual orientation, once they become aware of their sexual orientation. Nevertheless, some people’s sexual orientation may vary. Women’s orientation may be more changeable than men’s, possibly because of society’s homophobia and because men are more uncomfortable with a nonheterosexual identity. Some people may not become fully aware of their orientation for years and may seem to change sexual orientation when, in fact, they are justbecoming conscious of their true orientation. This knowledge may help providers support their LGBT client whose confusion about sexual issues is interfering with recovery from substance abuse.
Some types of therapies claim to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation. These conversion therapies or reparative therapies are often practiced by religiously based therapists or by some psychoanalysts who still consider homosexuality a mental illness. These therapies treat people who are uncomfortable with being gay, lesbian, or bisexual and—rather than helping an individual become comfortable with his or her inborn and natural sexual orientation—make the individuals even more uncomfortable and ashamed about being different. These attempts to change orientation may result in a temporary change of behavior.
A gay man may stop having sex with other men or have sex with women, but his actual sexual orientation, expressed in his sexual fantasies, desires, or thoughts, possibly will not change. Almost all major mental health and medical organizations have condemned these therapies as ineffective and potentially harmful because they make the person feel guilty and ashamed (Haldeman, 1994).
Assessing Sexual Orientation
If a substance abuse treatment provider is concerned that a client is confused about his or her sexual orientation, some evaluation tools are available to help assess a client’s feelings. Coleman (1987) devised a relatively simple assessment tool to help map out or identify the sexual orientation of clients (see exhibit 1–1). The questionnaire considers the combination of sexual behavior, fantasies, feelings, and self-identification that contributes to sexual orientation. This tool may be a useful way to introduce a discussion about sexual orientation with clients who are uncomfortable with the topic. It may also help people understand the complexity of sexual expression and their comfort level with it. However, providers should be sensitive to the individual situation of the client in both administering and interpreting the instrument.
