Imagine living your life pretending to be someone you're not. Obviously hiding who you really are will affect you in many ways. In “The Shadow Side of Everyday Life,” Zweig and Abrams suggest that every person has a shadow and “the shadow acts like a psychic immune system, defining what is self and what is not self” (325). They also believe that our shadows contain dark qualities. When a homosexual person passes as straight, he suppresses a dark shadow that is hidden from the world. Although double life is often thought to have a primarily psychological origin, there are also social reasons why homosexuals choose this lifestyle. Laws such as Don't Ask, Don't Tell and same-sex marriage laws are some social causes that contribute to self-concealment. There are also psychological reasons such as family relationships and bullying that lead to living a double life. What can we do to end this dilemma and improve our society? We can treat gays to stop being gay or inform society that being gay is not a choice depending on whether they have chosen that lifestyle or not. Social causes such as Don't Ask, Don't Tell and same-sex marriage laws contribute to homosexuals choosing to hide their true selves. In the military, many homosexual soldiers are punished because they do not like the opposite sex. In Burks' article, “Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Victimization in the Military,” he describes the difficulties service members face. Burk explains that if a homosexual does not hide his sexual orientation he will be discharged from the army. Between 1980 and 2009, over 32,000 military personnel were discharged due to their sexual orientation. Additionally, sexual violence and harassment are very common among service members… half of the document… Ademic Search Premier. Network. May 7, 2014. Destro, Robert A. "You have the right to remain silent": Does the United States Constitution require public affirmation of same-sex marriage?." BYU Journal of Public Law 27.2 (2013) : 397-440. Academic Research Premier Web. May 7, 2014.Jenkins, William J. "Can Someone Tell Me Why I'm Gay? What research suggests about the origins of sexual orientation." North American Journal of Psychology 12.2 (2010): 279-295. Academic Search Premier. Web. May 7, 2014. LaSala, Michael C. "Lesbians, Gay Men, and Their Parents : Family Therapy for the Coming Out Crisis." Family Process 39.1 (2000): 67-81. Academic Search Premier. Web. May 7, 2014. Srabstein, Jorge Carlos. "News on Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries Related to Bullying in the Americas "Revista Panamericano De Salud Publica 33.5 (2013): 378-382. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014.