Final answer:
Historically, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder and included in the DSM by the APA in 1952, fostering stigmatization and medical treatments aimed at changing sexual orientation. This classification was challenged and ultimately removed in 1973, transforming the medical and social understanding of the LGBTQ community. The correct option is a) Was considered a mental disorder
Step-by-step explanation:
Historical View on Homosexuality
Until about 25 years ago, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder. Historically, the pathologizing of gay and lesbian individuals began in the late 1800s with the psychiatric profession labeling homosexuality as a sign of mental illness.
This view was solidified in 1952 when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) included homosexuality in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), reinforcing the belief that homosexuality was a condition in need of a cure.
The APA listing resulted in various forms of psychotherapy and other invasive treatments aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation. However, in 1973, after years of activism and increasing social awareness, this classification was removed from the DSM, marking a significant change in the medical understanding of homosexuality.
In addition to the medical response, U.S. society often stigmatized same-sex attractions, particularly during times when gender roles and conformity were heavily emphasized.
For example, the 1950s saw increased secrecy within the LGBTQ community due to societal pressures and fear of persecution, as was evident with policies like Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450 that termed homosexuality as grounds for dismissal from federal employment.
Despite this, recognition of homosexuality and same-sex desire has existed throughout history, albeit under different social norms and with varying degrees of acceptance or marginalization.
People with homosexual orientation existed in a society that did not formally recognize 'heterosexuality' and 'homosexuality' as distinct categories until those concepts were established in modern psychology and medicine. Early notions of sexual orientation did not carry the same categorizations that we use today. The correct option is a) Was considered a mental disorder