MyOutSpirit.com Gay Spirituality Blog

Bridging the Gay/Evangelical Divide

'Efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm."

So says a new American Psychological Association report affirmed by its governing body in a 125-to-4 vote. No surprise there, given the past advice of the APA—and of other mental-health associations—against sexual-reorientation therapies.

What has raised some eyebrows was the APA's olive branch to religious conservatives. Reaffirming "individuals' right to their own religious beliefs," the report provides guidance to counselors whose religious clients feel distressed about their same-sex attractions. It encourages them to remind their clients that gay people can live happy lives and that there is no evidence to support the belief that sexual orientation can change. But if clients reject a gay identity anyway, declared the APA, then it would be ethical to help them reconcile their religious and sexual identities and to assist them in managing their behavior, including refraining from sexual activity.

Applause for the APA's sensitivity to religious diversity has come from previously opposing sides within evangelicalism. Psychotherapist Ralph Blair, the founder of Evangelicals Concerned, the gay-supporting "national network of gay and lesbian evangelical Christians and friends," welcomes APA's "clear rejection of 'reparative therapy.' " But he also welcomes its openness to supporting homosexual people "who nonetheless think that it's wrong for them to act on their same-sex desires." Grove City College psychologist-blogger Warren Throckmorton, who supports those who want to control same-sex attractions and reject a gay identity, sees hope for "a larger middle and smaller numbers of people at the opinion extremes. People on both sides, he says, "can agree that erotic responsiveness is extremely durable."

This emerging professional consensus—that one's sexual orientation is a natural, enduring disposition—has gained strength from scientists who have, in recent years, discovered gay-straight differences in brain centers, fingerprint patterns and, it appears, the womb: The more biological older brothers a man has, the greater the likelihood of same-sex orientation.

Even conservative Focus on the Family now agrees with the APA on this much: "We do not believe anyone chooses his or her same-sex attractions." Focus adds that, for men and women who struggle with the issue, the aim is "to steward their impulses in a way that aligns with their faith convictions." Focus on the Family has not reversed its encouragement of sexual-reorientation efforts, but it is passing off sponsorship of its money-losing "Love Won Out" seminars on "leaving homosexuality."

Some of the conflict about same-sex attractions stems from disagreements about biblical texts. On one side are those who assume the literal meaning of seven proscriptive passages, especially in Leviticus and Romans. On the other are those who say that these few texts are slim pickings among the Bible's 31,103 verses and that such texts usually also condemn other actions (such as child exploitation, promiscuity or idolatry) and never a natural orientation. But biblical scholars are working to resolve the differences, as they did with earlier debates over slavery, race and gender.

Anecdotes of ex-gays continue to be heard, but they are offset by a growing list of ex-ex-gays, including more than a dozen former ex-gay group leaders. The British evangelical organization Courage once aimed to assist those struggling with "the clear biblical prohibition of homosexual practice." But no longer. Acknowledging the harm done by its fruitless sexual-reorientation efforts, Courage has become a place for "gay and lesbian Christians who are seeking a safe place of friendship in which to reconcile their faith and sexuality."

Perhaps one day we will see traditionalists asking themselves whether the world would be a happier and healthier place if, for all people, love, sex and, yes, marriage went together. In the meantime, the increasing common ground between social scientists and religious conservatives is a small miracle in itself.

Mr. David Myers, a social psychologist, is co-author, with Letha Dawson Scanzoni, of "What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage" (HarperOne). This article first appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

Understanding Where We Come From, but not Losing Ourselves

I don’t know how many of you have been following all the to-do about a researcher in Oregon investigating the physiological aspects of sheep sexuality, but I have been. In the first reports to come out of Dr. Roselli’s research, I was among the many queers who were very frightened about prospects of research into hormonal “cures” of homosexuality. Now, as Dr. Roselli tries to distance himself and his research from these notions, I remain worried and skeptical.

 

While I have avoided posting on this subject because I feel there is not enough solid information available, I was reminded of Dr. Roselli’s work and investigations into the causes of homosexuality by an interview I read today on Salon titled God and Gorillas. This interview is just one example of scientific investigation into the origin of religion. I find both the investigation into the causes of homosexuality and the evolutionary origins of religion to be similarly worrying on a gut level, even though I support them on an intellectual level.

 

Like many queers, I feel threatened by research into the specific causes of homosexuality because I worry that if a gene, hormone, hormone balance, etc., were found that directly caused homosexuality, some might be tempted to develop a “cure” for homosexuality (or alternatively, mothers might be tempted to abort babies simply to avoid having a gay child).  While those of us who are out and proud and our allies recognize that such a “cure” is nonsense, it would likely appeal very strongly to those struggling with their sexuality, parents of those struggling, and homophobic policy makers and lobbyists.

Against nature?

In Oslo, the gay animal museum is attracting lots of attention. Thanks, AmericaBlog for the link.

The Oslo Natural History Museum opened the show last week and says it has been well attended, not least by families. Organisers reported early criticism of the project, and being told by one opponent they would "burn in hell". But there has been strong interest in an aspect of animal behaviour the museum says is quite common. It says homosexuality has been observed among 1,500 species, and that in 500 of those it is well documented.

Snark of the day: When told that homosexuality is observed among 1,500 animal species, religious commentators reporting exlucisvely to the Gay Spirituality & Culture blog explained that these animals are all "contrary to nature." When asked to point to a natural hierarchy of creatures that exhibit no homosexual behavior, they pointed to the religious hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and the organizational structures of evangelical Protestant churches such as Ted Haggard's New Life Ministry. ;-)

Gregory Herek offers blog on homophobia research

A new weblog examines the science of homophobia. Beyond Homophobia looks at sexual orientation, prejudice, science, and policy from the perspective of Gregory Herek, a Professor of Psychology at the University of California at Davis.

Cross-posted at this blog's future home: gayspirituality.zaadz.com/blog. Please add your comments at the new location.

Is homosexuality 40/60?

An article by Jim Ritter called "Is there a gay gene?" (actually about a brothers study) contains this estimate of the factors involved in homosexuality:

Scientists have rejected earlier notions that homosexuality is a mental illness. The thinking now is that sexual orientation is determined by roughly 40 percent genetic factors and 60 percent environmental factors.

It's rather startling to see such calculations reported without quotations or qualifications by a mainstream journalist! Timothy Kincaid follows up with one of the doctors quoted in the article...

The biology of sexual orientation

Simon LeVay, the best-known scientific researcher into the origin and nature of homosexuality, has an Internet home page. It includes a piece on "The Biology of Sexual Orientation" which examines a variety of non-biological theories of homosexuality including psychoanalytic theories, behaviorism/socialization, the effect of sexual experiences, and social Social constructionism. LeVay's look at biological theories includes genes, hormones, anatomy, brain studies, cognitive research, and birth order studies.

Gay, like they do it on the Discovery Channel

An article in The New York Times examines homosexuality in the animal world.