Exodus: Live Out Loud

Psychiatrists: Let's Talk About Homosexuality

From CitizenLink:

Two social conservatives will share the stage with two pro-homosexual speakers in a notable attempt at a “balanced discussion” sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The pro-homosexual speakers — Bishop Gene Robinson, an openly homosexual Episcopalian in New Hampshire, and Dr. David Scasta, past president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists — will seek “common ground and new perspectives” with two conservatives: the Rev. Albert Mohler, president of South Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of the Focus on the Family board of directors; and Dr. Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of psychology at Grove City College.

“The symposium acknowledges the role of religious belief as a core variable in the development of sexual identity,” Throckmorton told CitizenLink. “To my knowledge, this meeting, distinguished by diversity of religious viewpoints, is unprecedented at APA.”

The symposium is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. EDT, on Monday, May 5, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Read the whole article >>

APA: No Consensus on Cause of Homosexuality

From CitizenLink:

Group gives credence to the view that both nature and nurture are involved.

The American Psychological Association (APA) may be shifting from its view that homosexuality is inborn. The group now says both nature and nurture are involved, and clients have a right to self-determination.

In a new brochure, the APA concedes that there is no scientific consensus on what causes same-sex attraction.

“They are starting to have the integrity of reporting accurately about the condition of homosexuality," said Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International. "We find this to be a very exciting move and hope that it indicates future movement toward recognizing that people can and do overcome homosexuality.” 

Glenn Stanton, director of global family formation studies at Focus on the Family, said the brochure has an activist bent, but he sees a ray of hope.

“This doesn’t mean that we’ve completely succeeded in all the things that we’ve wanted to," he said, "but it’s a move in the direction that we’ve wanted them to move in, and I think that’s very positive news.”

Exodus Representatives Participate in Documentary Screening

"For the Bible Tells Me So," a documentary about Christian families who were faced with a homosexual child, and ultimately grew to embrace their homosexuality, was presented at an open screening at Stetson University last week. The screening was followed by a discussion panel featuring the film's director, Daniel Karslake. Among the other panelists were Mike Ensley of Exodus Youth and Dr. Julie Hamilton, a professional counselor affiliated with Exodus.

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal Online:

Overall, the movie won praise from both the conservative and liberal panel members.

"I loved that the core of it was families' stories," said Mike Ensley, a counselor with Exodus Ministries, which helps youth wanting to overcome homosexuality.

The documentary focuses on five Christian families coming to terms with a gay son or daughter. Just released on DVD, it's becoming a popular movie for church screenings, said filmmaker Daniel Karslake...

...Dissenting about some of the movie's science was Julie Harren Hamilton, a Palm Beach psychologist and president-elect of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, which helps clients change their sexual orientation.

She disputed the suggestion that homosexuality is simply genetic, arguing that the causes are more complicated.

Karslake, the filmmaker, defended his research but agreed with Hamilton that everyone should study the issues for themselves and draw their own conclusions.

UK Sociologist Tries to Spin "Athlete" Study

From Science Daily:

A study of former high-school American Football players has found that more than a third said they had had sexual relations with other men.

In his study of homosexuality among sportsmen in the US, sociologist Dr Eric Anderson found that 19 in a sample of 47 had taken part in acts intended to sexually arouse other men...

...“The evidence supports my assertion that homophobia is on the rapid decline among male teamsport athletes in North America at all levels of play,” he writes in his study, entitled ‘Being masculine is not about whom you sleep with…Heterosexual athletes contesting masculinity and the one-time rule of homosexuality’. It will be published in the journal Sex Roles in January.

Dr. Anderson seems adamant that this is a revolutionary new look at American athletes (and that sex between men must signify a decline in 'homophobia'), but the sample in question may be a little less representative of American sportsmen than suggested.

The 47 men, aged 18-23, were all American Football players who previously played at the high school (secondary school) level but had failed to be picked for their university’s team and were now cheerleaders instead.

Not to be stereotypical, but this isn't exactly an objective pool to draw from. Dr. Anderson did make one interesting observation, though, that we ought to pay attention to:

He believes the positive portrayal of homosexuality on television, the ease with which homosexuals could gradually ‘come out’ by using the internet, the ability for straight men to talk with gay men on the internet, and the decline of religious fundamentalism has made homosexuality and homosexual acts considerably less controversial for university-aged men.

Former Homosexuals Applaud Research Showing Sexual Orientation Change Possible

Nashville, TN--Leaders of the world's largest outreach to those dealing with unwanted homosexuality commended recent research showing change in sexual orientation to be possible at a press conference today in Nashville.

The study, released by InterVarsity Press yesterday, is the first longitudinal, peer-reviewed, scientific research of its kind on this topic to date. Researchers Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse released the results of a three-year study during an address at the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference. Their findings indicate that religiously mediated sexual orientation change is possible for some individuals and does not cause psychological harm to the patient, on average. These conclusions directly contradict the claims of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association that state that change in sexual orientation is impossible and attempting to pursue this alternative is likely to cause depression, anxiety or self-destructive behavior. The major findings of this study are reported in full in the book Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation (InterVarsity Press).

Former American Psychological Association President, Nicholas A. Cummings, Ph.D., Sc.D., praised the research methods of Jones and Yarhouse, "This study has broken new ground in its adherence to objectivity and a scientific precision that can be replicated and expanded, and it opens new horizons for investigation." In the absence of any scientific, peer-reviewed research on this topic, Exodus International funded the research conducted by Jones and Yarhouse.

Alan Chambers, a former homosexual and President of Exodus International, responded to the study findings at today's press conference, "Finally, there is now scientific evidence to prove what we as former homosexuals have known all along - that those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction can experience freedom from it.

For years, opponents of choice have said otherwise and this body of research is critical in advancing the national dialogue on this issue. Chambers, who was joined by researcher Dr. Stanton Jones at the press conference today, added, "Anyone who has undergone the life-changing process of leaving homosexuality behind will tell you that it is not an easy one. However, for thousands of us, the journey has been well worth it and we are grateful that these study findings give credence to our existence as men and women whose lives have been transformed by Jesus Christ."

Is There a Gay Gene?

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on the search for a genetic cause of homosexuality. The short article begins with a surprising admission that scientists do recognize same-sex attractions' developmental nature:

The thinking now is that sexual orientation is determined by roughly 40 percent genetic factors and 60 percent environmental factors.

They also mention studies on twins that point to environmental causation, as when one identical twin experiences same-sex attraction, the brother (who shares the same genes) is also gay only about half the time.

Another surprising idea in the article is that some gays actually fear the discovery of a "gay gene," because such a discovery may lead to the development of medical treatments or even a "cure" for homosexuality. Why should they be opposed to a so-called "cure"? Most LGBT activists believe it is healthy and right for a person--even a child--to undergo hormone treatment and even surgery to change their biological gender. Why then is changing one's orientation, if possible, so frightening?

Personally, I think this ambivalence points to the truth of what homosexuality really is--a defense mechanism. As long as its cause is an enigma, and arguments are not too concrete, it's easy to accept as unchangeable because it's so consuming and unknowable. But if a specific "switch" were ever found, be it psychological or biological, then it would only be a matter of turning the switch off, and to the same-sex attracted person that is very scary.

The homosexual identity is about more than attractions; I know for me it was a place of protection from hurt and disappointment. I thought I'd learned that the "traditional" family didn't work, and trying to interact with other males as one of them only led to humiliation. So I found a way (however unconsciously) to insulate myself from any vulnerability to it. Aside from the addictive pleasure, homosexuality is a powerful ally that's hard to learn to live without.

So, on second thought, it's not so surprising to see that many gays want to let their homosexuality continue to be a mystery that can't be solved.

60 Minutes Promotes Incomplete Message

Stacy Harp writes about the 60 Minutes segment concerning the "science" of homosexuality that aired last night.

From Stacy's article ...

... In the March 12, 2006 episode of 60 Minutes she (Leslie Stahl)  presented a piece about science and sexual orientation.  However, what Stahl conveniently left out of her piece and failed to tell the viewing public, is that her “expert” J. Michael Bailey  has been exposed and charged for “research misconduct” concerning the research he is best known for on transexuality.  Turns out Mr. Bailey received many complaints from the transsexual women he interviewed for his book The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender Bending and Transsexualism, saying that  they didn’t know he was using them as research subjects and that he distorted versions of their case histories that appeared in his book.

As a result of this, Bailey was under investigation for researcher misconduct in 2004, and ultimately resigned from his Chairmanship of the Department of Psychology, after he was given sanctions and  the investigation was final.  To this day, controversy surrounds Bailey and his associates that Stahl interviewed for her piece. With that knowledge, let’s now look at what CBS presented concerning the science of sexual orientation.

Go read the rest of Stacy's article.