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Health See other Health Articles Title: 'Gay' gene claim suddenly vanishes, APA revises statement on homosexuality A publication from the American Psychological Association includes an admission that there is no "gay" gene, according to a doctor who has written about the issue on the website of National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality. A. Dean Byrd, the past president of NARTH, confirmed that the statement from the American Psychological Association came in a brochure that updates what the APA has advocated for years. Specifically, in a brochure that first came out about 1998, the APA stated: "There is considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality." However, in the update: a brochure now called, "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality," the APA's position changed. The new statement says: "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles. ..." "Although there is no mention of the research that influenced this new position statement, it is clear that efforts to 'prove' that homosexuality is simply a biological fait accompli have failed," Byrd wrote. "The activist researchers themselves have reluctantly reached that conclusion. There is no gay gene. There is no simple biological pathway to homosexuality." Byrd said the APA's documents both new and old "have strong activist overtones," but the newer document "is more reflective of science and more consistent with the ethicality of psychological care." "On the question of whether or not therapy can change sexual orientation, the former document offered a resounding 'no,'" Byrd wrote. "However, the current document is much more nuanced and contains the following statement: 'To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective.'" A spokesman for NARTH said the change in statements, although not new, is considered significant for the organization. The APA declined to return a WND call requesting comment. Byrd questioned whether the APA now plans to study the effectiveness of a variety of therapies for homosexuality. "Many are entirely without validation, yet practitioners regularly receive Continuing Education credits for teaching these same therapies through APA-approved courses. Perhaps it is time for APA to hold all therapies and all therapists to the standard which they advocate for reorientation therapy," he said. But he wrote that the changes are substantial, with even a change in the APA's recommendations for additional information. "Most intriguing are the recommended resources for further reading. The former brochure referred readers to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and to Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), all activist groups," Byrd wrote. "The current brochure refers readers to the American Psychological Association, Mental Health America, and the American Academy of Pediatrics." NARTH documents other evidence of a lack of a "gay" gene, too. For example, Douglas Abbott, a University of Nebraska professor, concluded, "If homosexuality was caused by genetic mechanisms, their children would be more likely to choose same-sex interaction. But they aren't more likely, so therefore it can't be genetic." NARTH also rebuts some of the advocacy positions taken by homosexual proponents. "The term 'homophobia' is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behavior on either moral, psychological or medical grounds," NARTH explains. "Technically, however, the terms actually denotes a person who has a phobia – or irrational fear – of homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled 'homophobia.'" WND has reported on those who have left the homosexual lifestyle, and the opposition they face, including when a homosexual advocate attributed the crime of rape to the "sickness" of the ex-"gay" movement. Among other recent developments in the ongoing argument over the 'innateness" on homosexuality: A New England organization reports members of a transgender lobby promised to shadow grandmothers and others who will be collecting petition signatures on a traditional marriage amendment. Actions by members of the homosexual community prompted the American Psychiatric Association to cancel what was to be a discussion of the lifestyle. And prominent leaders of the homosexual community have stated that only they benefit from hate crimes laws, laws that enhance a penalty for crimes already covered by other statutes based on the thoughts that accompany the criminal act. Regina Griggs, the executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, said her organization and staff members repeatedly have been attacked simply because of their message: that there are such individuals as former homosexuals. Some attacks have been physical, such as a 2007 incident at the Arlington County Fair. Police told WND, there was a confrontation between an individual who got upset over the PFOX message about leaving homosexuality and a volunteer at the fair booth. "One officer told me today he was on patrol at the fair when a woman approached him and told him a man had knocked over pamphlets at the PFOX booth and assaulted another man there. The officer then spoke to the alleged victim. He did not want to press charges and therefore no written report was filed," said a statement issued by John Lisle, media relations officer for the Arlington County police department. "Based on the description the officer was given, he located the suspect at the fair. Another officer escorted that gentleman off the fair grounds," his statement continued. The result? Pro-homosexual activists vigorously condemned Griggs for "making up" the story when she alerted supporters about the situation. "Regina Griggs has lost all credibility and must resign in shame for her dishonest behavior," wrote Wayne Besen, executive director of the homosexual advocacy group Truth Wins Out. "What PFOX did was warped, twisted and an insult (sic) real hate crime victims." Those who condemn homosexual behavior also face electronic badgering. When Sally Kern, an Oklahoma lawmaker, vocally rejected the homosexual lifestyle, she was inundated with tens of thousands of e-mails in a coordinated attack on her beliefs. Some of the e-mails threatened her.
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#2. To: Disgusted (#0)
i think biology is a factor. particularly hormonal. why is it that most homosexuals have both male and female physical characteristics? i've seen this in youngsters. that's not nurture.
You might be right. I could be biology. But what the APA and others says is that there is no proof that it's genetic. In the nature vs nurture argument, nurture doesn't necessarily mean "upbringing." There are a many ways that an organism interacts with its environment that can affect development, like perhaps what happens in the womb, as has been mentioned elsewhere on this thread. The most important point of this article from my standpoint is that you can't do science in the confines within the politically charged atmosphere of committees and commissions, as the laughable campaign to convince everyone of the danger of man-made global warming so amply demonstrates.
What you're not taking into consideration is that homosexuality is a mental illness (only removed from the psychiatric DSM due to rioting outside the meeting hall where the newest edition was being planned). It doesn't only effect which sex they are attracted to. It's a pervasive personality disorder.
No, I hadn't taken that into consideration here. Whether this is mental illness or not was not a point at issue in the post that I made. I have known a number of homosexuals that were fine sociable people that I would have no reason to believe were any different than other members of the general population. On the other hand, I have seen the discord that may affect organizations when gays predominate. I have also know a number of homosexuals that exhibited a lot of neurotic behavior. I really have little to base any real judgement on, other than having seen facts and statistics on the pathologies and mortality that gays are statisically subject to. I don't know a lot about it. Perhaps you'll educate me.
#15. To: randge (#8)
It's common knowledge that homosexuals are flawed individuals with deap-seated psychoses and their short lives are marked by diseases, drug/alcohol abuse, child molestation, and all manner of violence (as perps and victims) with murder being a common way of solving problems within their 'communities'. In short, the above is why they were summarily fired from jobs when found out in the past and were candidates for mental asylums. I don't knowingly associate with them and I spare no opportunity to curse them and their deviancy.
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