The terms “homosexuality” and “heterosexuality” were first developed when homosexuality was considered a psychological illness. The American Psychiatric Association of Mental Disorders defined it as a psychiatric ailment that could be “cured,” in its official diagnostic manual. It wasn’t until 1973 that this definition (and term) was removed from the manual. This was mainly due to the gay rights movement of the late 1960s to mid ’70s. This movement aimed to achieve freedom from persecution and attain civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

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