To begin with, queer psychology has opened up an area of research that scientists have embraced, and led to fascinating and informative research. These scholars have shed light and given respect to a subject that many have misunderstood.

Originally gay and lesbian studies focused its inquiries into what was "natural" behavior as compared to homosexual behavior. In contrast, queer theory expanded the focus to encompass any kind of sexual activity or identity that falls into normative and deviant categories.

Queer theory examines homosexual representations in literature, as well as the categories of gender and sexual orientation. The main accomplishment of queer theory is a new view of categorization of gender and sexuality. Theorists claim that identities are not fixed and cannot be categorized because they consist of multiple varied components. Therefore, categorizing gender and sexual identity by one characteristic would be incorrect. Queer theory concerns itself with a variety of what was once considered non-normative sexualities and sexual practices.

Queer Science

Queer psychology is also related to queer science, which originated with a publication by that name in 1996, which was a survey of sexual orientation research. The author, Simon LeVay, discussed the work of pioneering sexologists such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld, Sigmund Freud and his followers, behaviorism, and LeVay's own research on INAH3 and its possible implications.

In LeVay's book, Queer science: The use and abuse of research into homosexuality he discussed his INAH3 which examined the relationship between sexuality and neurobiology. LeVay wrote:

"The findings on INAH3 fit very well with the model put forward by Hirschfeld nearly a century ago, and in my view they greatly strengthen the notion that the development of sexual orientation, at least in men, is closely tied in with the prenatal sexual differentiation of the brain. But it is important to stress several limitations of the study. The observations were made on adults who had already been sexually active for a number of years. To make a really compelling case, one would have to show that these neuroanatomical differences existed early in life - preferably at birth.

Queer Consciousness

Queer psychology places an emphasis on queer consciousness and embraces human rights and sexual diversity. It advocates the right of each individual to define their own sexual and gender identity, in spite of limiting definitions, out-dated traditions, and discrimination. Queer consciousness is associated with transpersonal psychology in that in honors the rights of gay, lesbian, and transgendered to have the same exceptional human experiences as everyone else.

References
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