DISCRIMINATING against gay and lesbian people and depriving them of social support leads to loss of self-esteem and can make them more vulnerable to mental illness, the High Court was told yesterday.

Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital and a consultant psychiatrist, called as an expert witness by a lesbian couple who want their Canadian marriage recognised here, said homosexuality is a condition considered today to be no more abnormal than childhood, old age or pregnancy. Each of those conditions may be the subject of specialist medical study and medical care, and each may at times give
rise to discomfort, dysfunction or distress but all were normal aspects of human natural history.

In cultures where social stigma, discrimination and adversity attached to homosexuality, it may be
associated with increased rates of mental illnesses, he said.

Stigma

He said the indirect effects of inequality and discrimination causing mental illness arise from stigma.

Stigma leads to shame and loss of self-esteem. This was a vulnerability factor for mental illnesses.

Denial of identity by others and active denial by the individual of his or her identity through the necessity
of disguising it through presenting a false identity, also represented a vulnerability factor for mental illness because of the constant effort involved.

Dr Kennedy was giving evidence in the continuing action by Dr Katherine Zappone, a public policy
consultant, and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan, an academic, against the Revenue Commissioners and the State.

They claim the failure by the authorities here to recognise their Canadian marriage as valid here breaches
their rights.

The case continues today.



Irish Independent, Friday 6 Octiber 2006