Final answer:
R.D. Laing was critical of traditional psychiatry's approach that pathologized LGBTQ individuals, which led to their mistreatment and invisibility in society. He challenged the establishment's practices that were prevalent until activist movements caused the removal of homosexuality as a mental illness from the DSM in 1973.
Step-by-step explanation:
R.D. Laing was a prominent figure in the field of psychiatry who offered critical views on how traditional psychiatry often pathologized certain groups, especially the LGBTQ community. Laing argued that the psychiatric establishment, by prioritizing classification and containment, effectively silenced the mentally ill, making them invisible and vulnerable to mistreatment. During the 1950s and beyond, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) listed homosexuality as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which facilitated efforts to "cure" homosexuality through various, often harmful therapies such as psychotherapy, behavior modification, and even extreme measures like electric shock and lobotomies in mental health facilities. This approach greatly impacted the lives of LGBTQ individuals, influencing military discharges, immigration policies, and public perceptions. The pathologizing of homosexuality and the subsequent struggles for dignity and acceptance led to activist movements that ultimately succeeded in the APA's landmark decision to remove homosexuality from the DSM as a mental illness in 1973.