Consequences of Decriminalization of Homosexuality:

Abstract

A comparison between homosexual males in two Australian states, Victoria (prior to decriminalization of homosexuality) and South Australia (eight years after decriminalization), indicated that the consequences of decriminalization did not include an increase in the negative aspects of homosexuality, such as public solicitation or sexually transmitted disease. Findings suggest that as a consequence of decriminalization, the psychological adjustment of homosexual men will increase and sexually transmitted diseases and public solicitation will decrease. These data are tentatively interpreted as indicating that there are few if any negative consequences of decriminalizing homosexuality, and a number of positive consequences.

Legal Paternalism and Legal Moralism: Devlin, Hart and Ten*

“…Glanville Williams is most probably wrong in writing that homosexuals are on the whole distinctly more unhappy than heterosexuals, and this seems to be not exclusively because of the attitude of the law and society; it results from the general inability to form stable attachments which may itseif be due to the absence of children as a bond. (quoted from Ten 1971,59) The inability to form stable relationships and the absence of childrenthe latter of which can be solved by adoption arrangements i f this is allowedare very much dependent on the attitudes of the law and society: It is quite clear that the secrecy required by restrictive laws and social pressures drive homosexuals into a number of anonymous contacts instead of one steady partnership (Sinclair and Ross 1986). Consequently, although homosexuals in Devlin's England would be more unhappy than heterosexuals, this state of affairs could be changed by altering the law and fighting the prevailing prejudices.…”

Psychosocial ethical aspects of AIDS.

“…From a public health perspective, since there is some evidence that decriminalisation of homosexual acts may be associated with lower STD rates in homosexual men (9), further stigmatisation or recriminalisation would probably increase the spread ofAIDS. This example of an objective couched in negative terms illustrates that while measures which met this objective might be considered 'ethical', they could be considered unethical from a psychosocial or public mental health perspective.…”

Aids And The Pursuit Of Happiness: Some Problems Associated With Psychosocial Discrimination

“…There may also be a self-protective element in making provisions to limit anti-homosexual or anti-AIDS carrier utterances. Sinclair and Ross (1986) found the rate of sexually transmitted disease (STDs) in homosexual men decreased following homosexual law reform. This decrease probably occured as homosexual men become self-accepting and able to enter into long term relationships, and engage in fewer guilt engendering, transient relationships which are more conducive to STD transmission.…”