[Effects and side effects of the disease concept "Homosexuality"]

The diagnosis of homosexuality was removed from the DSM in 1973 and from the ICD in 1991. Despite this formal depathologization, negative effects of the concept of "homosexuality" as a disease, which stems from the 19th century, are still evident to this day and will be highlighted in this article. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the related interactions between social and medical processes. First, we give a global overview of the legal and social situation of sexual minorities, ranging from gender equality to marginalization and persecution. This is followed by a historical outline of the medical-social discourses in order to understand the connection between social stigmatization and pathologizing theories on homosexuality. Thereby, it can be demonstrated how scientific and social progress made the depathologization of homosexuality necessary, but also how difficult a consistent and sustainable effect of this depathologization appears to be. Additionally, we focus on the effects of persistent medical and social stigma on the health of LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) people. For this purpose, scientific models will be utilised in order to explain the increased risk of mental illness in LGB people arising as a direct result of various forms of stigmatization. In an outlook, we point out the ongoing precarious situation of sexual minorities in many parts of the world and emphasize the importance of destigmatizing polices and guidelines as carried out by the World Medical Association in 2013.