What do sociologist mean when they deem homosexuality deviant?

Answer 1

Possibly means the sociologist has their own agenda when it comes to homosexuality. Just as you wouldn't pay attention to a strict vegetarian or vegan when they give their opinion on eating meat, or as you would ignore a person who eats only meat when they advise you not to eat vegetables, so you don't pay attention to an alleged expert who believes they're qualified to decide what forms of generally accepted human behaviour - accepted before human recorded history - are deviant. Deviant defines a person whose behaviour is different from what some people consider socially acceptable. This is strictly a personal opinion and nothing to do with what a sociologist might or might not have learned in college.

Deviance is defined in sociology as a behaviour that goes against the norms (being a specific expression of a value, such getting a well paid job, this being an expression of the value of wealth) and values (being what is valued by society, such as wealth) of society. So if the society you live in values the Heterosexual Nuclear Family (1 mum and 1 dad plus kids) then in that society, then yes homosexuality is deviant. But if you look at another society you will find that the values are different, therefore homosexuality may not be deviant. As you can see it really all a matter of norms and values of the society that you live in. For example, in the UK homosexuality would not be considered deviant, but if you go to the Israel you will find that it is. I hope that this is an objective (not biased, as sociologist attempt to separate themselves from the society they wish to study (positivism), although it has been argued that this is impossible (interpretivism)) answer, but I cannot guarantee it. As has been said before it is all very subjective (biased based on opinion, theory or belief)

Make up your own mind.