Exodus: Live Out Loud

Gay-Identified Bishop Refuses to "Lend Credibility" to Symposium

From Warren Throckmorton:

Today, the Washington Blade reported that Bishop Gene Robinson backed out of his scheduled presentation at the American Psychiatric Association conference. He was scheduled to present about “A Pastoral Approach for Gay & Lesbian People Troubled by Homosexuality.”

Bishop Robinson provided the following explanation:

“Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement,” Robinson told the Blade. “It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen … lends credibility to that so-called therapy.”

This is quite troubling and not at all accurate. Since no one on the panel planned to speak about reparative therapy, it is clear to me that the Bishop was misinformed. The symposium was approved by the APA in October of 2007 and nothing has changed in the descriptions, personnel or intent of the symposium since then. The meeting is not going to endorse reparative approaches, or advocate for any change in APA policy.

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 Change Possible... for Sheep?

From Earthtimes.org:

NEW YORK: Experiments conducted by scientists to change the sexuality of homosexual sheep have drawn ire from gay and lesbian activists. They are afraid the efforts could lead to extinction of homosexuality in humans.
 
The experiments have been approved by the government as farmers complained they are financially affected when one in 10 rams, on average, is gay. After extensive studies of the brains of the homosexual rams, scientists at the Oregon State University have been able to identify the processes that influence their sexual orientation.
 
These rams were given injections so that the levels of hormones in the brains responsible for the orientation were adjusted with the result that some of the previously gay rams started interacting with ewes.

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Navaratilova, who is a self-admitted lesbian, described the efforts as "homophobic." A gay rights activist likened the experiments to Nazi research in the early 1940s which aimed at eradicating homosexuality. He described them as eugenics.
 
The scientists said their research is confined to reducing or eliminating gay sheep. Charles Roselli, a biologist leading the research team, said sexuality has been an under-studied subject because of political concerns.

"It's a touchy issue. In fact, several studies have shown that people who believe homosexuality is biologically based are less homophobic than people who think that this orientation is acquired," he said.
 
He said any possible applications of his research to humans were not a matter for him.

Gay activists say the simplicity of the process in altering the hormonal balance of the brain could become easily applicable to humans, when research can be conducted and methods devised to screen unborn children for 'gayness' and even parents resorting to treat their children to become heterosexual.

For a long time it has seemed that the gay activists' message to us was that homosexuality was biologically determined and therefore immutable. So why would they oppose research which, though it has nothing to do with human social politics, would seem to prove that homosexuality is biological, at least in animals?

It appears that the true distillation of the gay activist's platform is this: same-sex attracted people have to be gay. Whether there is a path to freedom from homosexuality through relational growth and counseling or even medical/hormonal treatment, they're against it. Why can't they accept the possibility of a choice?

It's becoming more common to hear activists say even if being gay was a choice, they would choose it because it's such a good life. This is a powerful argument, but it simply isn't true.  The fact is, nobody wants to be gay.The reason these extremists react so strongly to the discoveries of a specific cause (which they seem to have wanted) is because they know that if an easy way out was found, people would be leaving the gay lifestyle in droves; nothing would be a bigger disaster for pro-homosexual ideology and political power.

Another point this brings up is the absolute hypocrisy of these activists who, while condemning any remote possibility of "treating" homosexuality medically or psychologically, support and celebrate drug treatments and even surgery aimed at changing the gender of confused adolescents and children.

New Study Points to Environmental Factors in Sexual Attraction

Warren Throckmorton on BP News:

Mark Twain said once: "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." If environmental factors in sexual preference could talk, they might say the same thing. For sure, social or family factors in influencing sexual attractions have been written off by numerous scholars and media members. However, a new Danish study may prompt a fresh evaluation of the role of social factors in sexual orientation.

The study, published in the October 2006 issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior, authored by Danish epidemiologist Morten Frisch and statistician Anders Hviid, reports the analysis of data from more than two million men and women. It is the first study to examine an entire group of homosexuals for environmental factors in their decisions to "marry" homosexually. The research suggests a link between environmental factors such as geographic birthplace and family relationships and the probability of "marrying" a same-sex partner. The massive study also finds that the number of brothers and sisters affects the probability of marrying heterosexually. This finding questions a recent, widely touted Canadian study of birth order that found the number of older brothers increased the probably of homosexuality in men.

Read the whole article >>

Berger's Statement Generates Anger

Dr. Joseph Berger's recent statements have caused a bit of anger in certain parts of the gay identified blogosphere.  Dr. Throckmorton also reports on this.

Dr. Joseph Berger is reported to have stated (original article removed from the NARTH website):

I suggest, indeed, letting children who wish go to school in clothes of the opposite sex - but not counselling other children to not tease them or hurt their feelings. On the contrary, don't interfere, and let the other children ridicule the child who has lost that clear boundary between play-acting at home and the reality needs of the outside world.  Maybe, in this way, the child will re-establish that necessary boundary.

After contacting NARTH about our concerns over this statement, Exodus received the following reply  from them explaining the organizational view of Dr. Berger's advice.  They gave us permission to release this statement from them.

NARTH disagrees with Dr. Berger's advice as we believe shaming, as distinct from correcting can only create greater harm.Too many of our clients experienced the often life long, harmful effects of peer shaming. We cannot encourage this. 

Here is the Exodus response to the above clarification from NARTH.

Exodus commends NARTH for its distinction regarding the harmful emotional damage of peer shaming. So many of us as former homosexuals know, firsthand, that public or private humiliation can serve no beneficial purpose. We must demonstrate compassion and honor the dignity and  worth of each person.

Family.org - Lesbian Study Misreported

Link: Family.org - Lesbian Study Misreported.

Lesbian Study Misreported

by Steve Jordahl

Headlines tout a new study reaveals a biological link to homosexuality, but the author says her research is being taken out of context.

A Swedish team claims that lesbian brains react differently to the smell of pheromones than do the brains of straight women. Is this the “gay gene” activists have been waiting for? Grove City College Psychologist Warren Throckmorton responds.

“This study has nothing to say about the cause of that response. It has nothing to say about how those findings got the way they did.”

Throckmorton says the differences could be a conditioned response. But an AP reporter wrote “It’s a finding that adds weight to the idea that homosexuality has a physical underpinning and is not learned behavior.” To that statement, study author Ivanka Savic replied, “This is incorrect and not stated in the paper.”

“The most charitable explanation is that he simply didn’t understand it.”

Throckmorton says it’s more likely the media was looking for a simple answer like, ‘You’re born that way.’ Exodus International (edit -  Membership Director) Randy Thomas is used to the media bias.

“What usually happens is that the media spins it into some sort of social-political statement, instead of actually looking at the science that is going on.”

The study does open the possibility that homosexuality has a biological component.

“Either way, as a former homosexual, I know that my genes are not tyrannical over me. Even if it were proven to be genetic, I am free in Christ.”

At this point, science is a long way from that proof.

Study on Sexual Reorientation Therapy Deflates 'Coercion' Accusations

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/42005c.asp

"A new peer-reviewed study indicates people who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle prefer therapists who will assist them.

Twenty-eight clients who had sought sexual reorientation therapy were asked to rate the helpfulness of their therapists on 20 different practices. Therapists who worked with their clients toward sexual reorientation were viewed as generally helpful, while therapists who opposed their client's objective of sexual reorientation were viewed as generally unhelpful on a variety of dimensions.

Grove City College professor Warren Throckmorton is the study's lead author. He believes the study debunks the claim that clients are often coerced into renouncing their homosexual lifestyle."- Jim Brown, Agape Press, Oct. 3, 2005