Homouals () Many homouals prefer to be called gay or, for woman, lesbian. Most of them live quiet lives just (51) anyone else. Some gay people have always raised children, (52) or with partners, and the use of artificial insemination (人工受精) is increasing among lesbians. Gay persons are in every kind of job. Some are very open about their homouality, and some are more private. Some (53) their ual orientation as a biological given and others as a choice. For those women who see it as a choice, one reason often given is the inequality in most heteroual (异性恋的) relationships. Homouality has been common in most cultures throughout history and generally (54) . As a result, homoual activity became a crime, (55) which the penalty in early courts was death. Homoual behavior. is still (56) in many countries and the United States. Homouality later came to be viewed widely as less a sin than a sickness, but now no mental health professional (具有从业资格的人) any longer (57) homouality an illness. More recent theories to (58) for homouality have included those based on biological and sociological factors. Today, (59) , there is no conclusive general theory that can explain the cause of homouality. Attitudes (60) homouality began to change in the second half of the 20th century. Gays attribute this, in part, to their own struggle for their rights and pride in their orientation. Some large companies now (61) health-care benefits to the life partners of their gay employees. Many cities also have officially appointed lesbian and gay advisory (咨询) committees. (62) some attitudes have changed, however, prejudice (偏见) still exists, and in the late 1980s and early 1990s there were considerable shouts against homouals, with attempt to (63) laws forbidding the granting of basic civil rights to gays. The epidemic, which started in the 1980s, has devastated(毁坏)the gay community and brought it together as never before, The organized gay response to the lack of government financial support for fighting and to the needs of the thousands of victim. () they be gays or not, has been a model of community action. , however, has also (65) people with another reason for their prejudice. (51)