Explanation
Homosexuality has historically been stigmatized and, in many societies, criminalized. In several countries, same-sex relationships were punished as crimes until legal reforms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The pathologization of homosexuality within medicine and law has been increasingly challenged, and today many societies recognize equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. Nevertheless, discrimination, social exclusion, and legal inequalities persist in parts of the world. From a criminological perspective, homosexuality illustrates how social norms and legal definitions shape what is considered “deviant” or “criminal.”
Theoretical Reference
Homosexuality is relevant to the sociology of deviance and to biopolitics. Labeling theories demonstrate how homosexuality was historically defined as deviant through legal and medical discourses. The work of Michel Foucault, particularly on sexuality and power, highlights how the regulation of homosexuality reflects broader mechanisms of social control.