When WHO Removed Homosexuality From Its List Of Mental Disorders

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 17 May 2025 Thirty five years ago on May 17, 1990, WHO removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Before that, in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), effectively declassifying it as a mental illness. This decision was a landmark achievement in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, challenging the long-held belief that homosexuality was a disease. The APA's decision was followed by the American Psychological Association in 1975, and later by the National Association of Social Workers in 1993. That until recently, it was on the list of mental disorders is something that makes one think. The Apex Court of India decriminalized it only in 2018. Whether homosexuality is natural or unnatural is not the case. The legal and medical acceptance of homosexuality or lesbianism as an alternative sexual orientation and preference is of paramount importance. Agreed, our society, rooted in prejudices and religious obscurantism, may still cast opprobrium on homosexuality as perversion but the fact is, it's not. Though heterosexuals clearly outnumber homosexuals, at least ostensibly (!), it (homosexuality) is not an anomaly or aberration any longer. It's indeed interesting to observe that the Indian society, before the advent of Islam and Christianity, wasn't too harsh on homosexuality, though The Manusmriti (Law Code) does mention that homosexual acts between men bring a loss of caste, thus suggesting a negative view of homosexual relationships. Some stories, like that of Shudri-Brahmini tirtha, hint at lesbian love, indicating a degree of acceptance of same-sex relationships. Overall, Indian mythology is not monolithic in its views on homosexuality. It acknowledges the existence of same-sex relationships and gender variance in some instances, while also containing narratives that imply a negative view of such relationships. While all three Semitic religions, viz, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, scripturally condemn same-sex relationships, instances of homosexuality and lesbianism are rampant in all three faiths and societies. Sufis have often displayed their homosexual leanings. Sufi Bulleh Shah's love and adoration for his Murshid (Shah Inayat) borders on homo-eroticism: Inayat will come to my nuptial couch; I am in great delight. And: Bullah has fallen in love with the Lord. He has given his life and body as earnestly. His Lord and Master is Shah Inayat Who has captivated his heart. Amir Khusro's 'cloying closeness' to his master Nizamuddin Auliya may disturb the fragile religious sensibilities of an average Muslim. In Amir Khusro's poetry, you come across sexual innuendo towards his Murshid: Khusro has given himself to Nizam You made me your bride when our eyes met Rumi and Shams had a 'deeper' (to use a euphemistic pun) relationship that went beyond the walls of mysticism. Shah Hussain and Madho Lal were drawn to each other. Mughal emperor Babar was romantically involved with a young man from Uzbekistan whose name was Baburi Andijani. Babar described this relationship quite explicitly in his memoirs Tuzk-e-Babri, written in Chagatai, also known as Turki. Those embarrassingly explicit passages were later bowdlerised by the moralist and polyglot Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan while translating 'Babarnama' from Chagatai Turkic into Persian. The great mystic and master of love poetry, Hafiz Shirazi was madly in love with a boy from Shiraz and wrote immortal poetry in praise of the black mole on that lad's face. Like Irish author and playwright Oscar Wilde, Hafiz had a predilection for pre-pubescent boys (Be-Resh Launde in Urdu). To cut the matter short, homosexuality has existed in all cultures, creeds and civilizations since time immemorial. One has no right to condemn and criminalize it. Nature has its own way to control and counter things and threats. Homosexuality was condemned because it was and is still a 'procreational barrier.' A homosexual or lesbian union cannot produce a progeny. Ergo, to produce a progeny and perpetuate human race, heterosexuality was given preference over homosexuality, just like incest was condemned because it often produced genetically deformed offspring. It was all nature's arrangement. Remember, nature's decrees and diktats predated as well as presaged human morality. Don't mistake nature for god. The latter doesn't exist. So, refrain from casting aspersions on people whose (sexual) likes and dislikes may be different from those of the majority. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. 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