Abstract
The historical treatment of homosexuality in psychoanalysis has ranged from pathologization to discrimination. Despite recent attempts at inclusion, gay analysts and patients still report bias within the field. This study explored the experiences of gay and heterosexual psychoanalysts regarding the discipline’s attitude towards homosexuality. Semi-structured interviews with nine analysts (four gay men, four heterosexual men, one heterosexual woman) from different theoretical traditions and countries were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The sample’s diversity offered a rare opportunity to compare the perspectives of gay and heterosexual analysts within the same professional community. Four major themes emerged: (1) ‘It’s not a problem’, (2) experiences of discrimination, (3) critiques of psychoanalysis and its institution and (4) positive change in terms of acceptance of sexual diversity. Gay analysts reported discrimination, rejection and a sense of being wronged, while heterosexual analysts tended to lack emotional empathy and regarded discrimination as a problem of the past. Both groups acknowledged psychoanalysis as a valuable therapeutic tool but emphasized the urgency of systemic change to ensure its ethical integrity and inclusivity. The findings highlight the importance of fostering inclusive practices, addressing entrenched biases and maintaining the psychoanalytic attitude, the discipline’s core, when working on issues related to homosexuality.