Family rejection of LGB children linked to poor health in early childhood

EurekAlert! ^ | 29-Dec-2008

[CE2949BB]

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29, 2008 - For the first time, researchers have established a clear link between family rejection of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents and negative health outcomes in early adulthood. The findings will be published in the January issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a peer-reviewed article entitled "Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Young Adults."

[scripter]

I think that's a great approach to parenting a child confused about their sexuality.

We adopted two boys who have the same biological mother. The first boy was 6-months-old when he came to live with us nearly 8 years ago and is doing great. I have no doubt in my mind he is secure in his sexuality.

A week later, his older brother (5-years-old at the time) came to live with us. This boy was bounced from home to home growing up and it took about 5 years of living with us before he felt to completely belong to our family. That was three years ago and he is doing great. Neither do I have any doubts this boy is secure in his sexuality.

But, any number of environmental factors could have confused these boys about the sexuality. Among other things, we, as a society, need to really think long and hard about the traits we associate with gayness. Until then, as I see it, confusion about same-sex attraction and root causes will continue to flourish in our culture.

[NinoFan]

I think it’s clear that by the time that someone reaches the age where they’re curious about such topics that they already have interests one way or the other (or possibly both ways). Whether this is due to hormone levels during pregnancy or upbringing in early childhood or a combination of factors, the attraction seems to be there by that point in time. The questions, as I see them, are whether that attraction should be denied and whether it’s truly changeable.

[scripter]

We need to do more research.

Indeed.

I'll take a look at the first link. Every single study I've researched makes for great headlines but that's about it.

Most of the gays that have 'left' the 'lifestyle' usually return or worse (commit suicide, for example).

First, that's a very sweeping statement. Second, we have ex-gays on this forum who haven't returned to the gay lifestyle. Third, there are well known examples of gays going straight who are helping others leave the lifestyle. Fourth, the number of ex-gays continues to grow.

[scripter]

There are no credible studies supporting hormone levels as a causal factor for homosexuality and many of the studies support environment as a causal factor.

Here is a short summary you may find interesting: How Might Homosexuality Develop? Putting the Pieces Together

[DLfromthedesert]

This is the most thoughtful, cogent post in the whole thread. Encouraging the same sex attraction seems to be the goal of this study.

[CE2949BB]

First, that's a very sweeping statement.

Indeed it is.

Second, we have ex-gays on this forum who haven't returned to the gay lifestyle.

Not touchin' that one. If they say they haven't returned, so be it.

Third, there are well known examples of gays going straight who are helping others leave the lifestyle.

Maybe you're right. Planes landing safely don't make the news.

Fourth, the number of ex-gays continues to grow.

Well, the population as a whole is increasing exponentially, so.... ;)

I'd love to hook successful "ex-gays" up to a fMRI machine for a day. Have a peek at what their brains are saying, not their mouths.

Most of the 'gay therapy' that I've heard about seems to be aversion therapy.

For the record: I'm straight.

[scripter]

Perhaps I missed it, but I didn't see a link to the actual study from your link. It appears the National Geographic article was based on an email and another scientist (Witelson) who wasn't involved in the study.

I did notice the report mentioned the results of the study don't imply sexuality is determined at birth.

They made a rather bold statement when they said "Sexual orientation has a large genetic component" when in actual studies, environment plays the larger part, although they did say "[this] doesn't mean environment is a hundred percent irrelevant."

There is nothing new here. No evidence to date that homosexuals are born with their same-sex attraction.

[NinoFan]

“I’d love to hook successful “ex-gays” up to a fMRI machine for a day. Have a peek at what their brains are saying, not their mouths.”

While this would be interesting, I’m not sure that even at its best that it could confirm much more than whether or not they still have some attraction to the same sex. Fundamentalists will say that this is an example of sin nature, so it changes nothing.

Now, if the claim is that someone is “cured” of homosexual desire permanently, then that’s a whole other story. But if it’s merely that some gays can learn to be satisfied without homosexual contact or in a heterosexual relationship, well, that’s a much harder issue and it seems probable to me that there would be some gays who could adapt well to such situations (though I doubt there are that many).

[scripter]

Most of the 'gay therapy' that I've heard about seems to be aversion therapy.

That's some pretty old news but I'm grateful you didn't mention electroshock therapy as I hear that more than anything. Aversion therapy is something I haven't heard used in many years.

For the record: I'm straight.

Hmmm. I get the impression you've had to make that clear in the past. :-) For the record, I've had to make that clear many times myself.

[NinoFan]

“For the record, I’ve had to make that clear many times myself.”

Would you be offended if I asked if you are an ex-gay?

[scripter]

Not all all, and I'm not ex-gay.

But, would I really tell you if I was? :-)

[CE2949BB]

There is nothing new here. No evidence to date that homosexuals are born with their same-sex attraction.

Witelson wasn't involved in the study, but his work is used. Such is the nature of the beast called science.

Recent work by Witelson and colleagues indicated that the corpus callosum, a long fiber tract that connects the two brain hemispheres, was larger in gay men than in heterosexual men.

Brain features such as the corpus callosum and amygdalae develop very early, suggesting they are primarily genetically determined, she said.

I'd guess that any 'feature' or part of development that happens before environmental factors can have a psychological effect probably is genetic.

I have a suspicion - purely personal, no data to back this up at all - that being born 'gay' may turn out to be similar to being born 'left-handed'.

Not to say that there's a link between the two. ;)

[NinoFan]

“But, would I really tell you if I was? :-) “

Why not?

[CE2949BB]

Hmmm. I get the impression you've had to make that clear in the past. :-)

Well, there was this one time at a bar....

In all seriousness, I wanted it to be clear that I don't have a dog in this fight. :)

[Citizen Blade]

Now, if the claim is that someone is “cured” of homosexual desire permanently, then that’s a whole other story. But if it’s merely that some gays can learn to be satisfied without homosexual contact or in a heterosexual relationship, well, that’s a much harder issue and it seems probable to me that there would be some gays who could adapt well to such situations

I think any therapy of this sort can only really work on someone who has bisexual tendencies. If someone only finds members of their own sex sexually attractive, I really can't see anything that could "re-wire" them to find members of the opposite sex sexually appealing. But, I can very well see someone who is sexually attracted to both genders deciding to forego sexual relations with members of their own gender, especially if they enter into a long-term relationship with someone they care about.

I guess it comes down to how you define a homosexual- I tend to consider the term being applicable only to people who are exclusively attracted to members of the opposite sex.

[NinoFan]

“If someone only finds members of their own sex sexually attractive, I really can’t see anything that could “re-wire” them to find members of the opposite sex sexually appealing”

Oh, I agree, but by saying what I did, I meant gays who would find their longing for something else, be it raising a family or mere companionship, sufficient to their mental well being. The sexual aspect would not be present outside of perhaps forcing oneself to have sex with a member of the opposite sex to procreate. I know total gays who have forced themselves to be with women (whether during high school to appear to be straight or for some other reason) and while they hated it, they were physically able to do it by using some interesting techniques which I won’t get into out fear of crossing the decency line on this forum.

As you say, bisexuals are a whole different ballgame.

I do not believe that true rewiring is possible and didn’t mean to suggest anything of the sort.

[scripter]

Witelson wasn't involved in the study, but her work is used.

I saw that. My problem is we can't say the corpus callosum (or its size) is caused by genetics, which, I believe, is similar to the problem with Simon LeVay's study on the hypothalamus. I'd have to go back and read his study [1981].

In regards to the Narth link, most left-handed people are heterosexual in much the same way there are more effeminate heterosexual men than homosexual men.

We can see traits here and there and we always will. What we really need to do is look at all the evidence all of the time, which, unfortunately, is not what some reporters are prone to do.

[scripter]

Why not?

Because I have a dry sense of humor?

[CE2949BB]

While this would be interesting, I’m not sure that even at its best that it could confirm much more than whether or not they still have some attraction to the same sex.

If a person is exclusively attracted to members of the same sex, the person is gay. He - or she - may learn how to do the mechanics of heterosexual sex, but if they aren't attracted to the person... it's just an act.

[sinanju]

Well, I only know what I’ve read. If I thought conversion therapy worked, I’d recommend it, but I’m just not convinced of it. Praying over it isn’t going to change things either, nor will horrible recriminations between parents (assuming there are two). I have personally become convinced that the majority of gays are “made”, vampire fashion, rather than “born”, through genetic or in utero mutation. It’s purely anecdotal, but it seems those gays who are honest and forthright about it, generally seem to admit to having been molested real early on. The fact that in recent decades, we haven’t been hanging molesters or imprisoning them for life—along with the fact of more and more unstable families—with all the more opportunities for molestation that presents, does not bode well.

The best I can recommend is to accept the fact of the matter and work it from there. Now, this little matter that children in publik skool, and MTV watchers, etc., seem to be bombarded with pro-gay propaganda, and that it appears to be almost fashionable in some rebellious teen quarters to self-declare oneself sexually ambiguous, I’d say simply accept it, but don’t indulge it. If they really are gay, or especially, if you suspect it, for God’s sakes, don’t give them the excuse to start the cycle of destructive behavior. Let them know that, while you ain’t turning cartwheels, you’re glad they trusted you enough to tell you.

All too many of the gay autobiographies I’ve flipped through have the hero/heroine (whether a few years or centuries ago) clutching the shameful secret to themselves for years and then flipping out and going wild the moment they leave home. Too many gay youngsters spend their first few years of young adulthood immersing themselves in the sexual carnival of the LBGT demimonde with tragic (read AIDS) consequences. Helping them establish a healthy lifestyle should be the main objective.

Above all, always remember this: bottle-feeding junior and changing his diapers decidedly loses it’s charm the second time around. Seeing the documentaries is as close as I want to get to that experience. Oooog. Ick.

Finding him dangling from a basement beam because he couldn’t bring himself to tell you can’t be too pleasant either.

So it’s important to be a supportive parent. One should try to steer the child in a healthy direction. Now, I don’t know what percentage of gay youth act in obviously “different” ways but people should be allowed to be themselves. Being a supportive parent does NOT mean being a subservient, pink-banner waving PFLAG parent either!