Posted on 02/07/2006 8:28:20 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
It was bound to happen. In the span of a single generation, we have seen the practice of sodomy evolve from a bizarre sexual behavior to a normative alternative lifestyle; from illegality to a constitutional right; from the closet to the boardroom; from tolerance to promotion; and lastly, from the bathhouse to the marriage altar. The next step, which is already in process, is reminiscent of a Soviet-style “reeducation” program.
According to a December 10, 2005, Washington Post article, “Psychiatry Ponders Whether Extreme Bias Can Be an Illness,” it seems there is a serious move afoot to formally designate those who are repulsed by homosexual practice as suffering from a pathological neurosis—“homophobia.” In other words, a person who views the legitimization of homosexuality as sinful, immoral, or destructive to society may have a mental disorder!
That analysis was offered by a number of mental health professionals, including UCLA psychology professor Edward Dunbar, who equates so-called homophobia with racial bias and suggests the “disorder” should be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
According to Professor Dunbar, “When I see someone who won’t see a physician because they’re Jewish, or who can’t sit in a restaurant because there are Asians, or feels threatened by homosexuals in the workplace, the party line in mental health says, ‘This is not our problem.’ If it’s not our problem, whose problem is it?”
Gary Belkin, deputy chief of psychiatry at New York’s Bellevue Hospital, said “Psychiatrists who are uneasy with including something like this in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual need to get used to the fact that the whole manual reflects social context. That is true of depression on down. Pathological bias is no more or less scientific than major depression.” Dr. Belkin plans to conduct a study on pathological bias among patients at his hospital.
Other psychiatrists have gone a step further and suggested that persons who exhibit “homophobia” may need to be treated with anti-psychotic medications, with a program already implemented within the California Department of Corrections.
Shama Chaiken, divisional chief psychologist for the department, said, “We treat racism and homophobia as delusional disorders. Treatment with anti-psychotics does work to reduce these prejudices.”
Alvin F. Poussaint, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, says that persons with such pathological biases are “delusional” and believes their problems should be treated with psychiatry. “They imagine people are going to do all kinds of bad things and hurt them, and feel they have to do something to protect themselves. When they reach that stage, they are very impaired. . . . They can’t work and function; they can’t hold a job. They would benefit from treatment of some type, particularly medication.” (Emphasis added)
A voice of “dissent” was heard from psychiatrist and author Sally Satel, who opined that hate-crime perpetrators could evade responsibility by claiming they suffered from a mental illness: “I think it’s absurd. You could use it as a defense [in court].”
Brokeback Mountain, the homosexual “love story” between two cowboys has served as a catalyst to bring the issue of “homophobia” as a neurosis before the public. Irrespective of the fact that Hollywood and liberal elites are thrilled by the film and have honored it with a number of awards, moviegoers have generally been turned off by the portrayal of the noble American cowboy as gay. Many theaters are refusing to show the film, prompting co-star Heath Ledger to claim the cancellations are “akin to racism.” He added:
"I heard a while ago that West Virginia was going to ban it. But that’s a state that was lynching people only 25 years ago, so that’s to be expected. . . . Personally, I don’t think the movie is [controversial] but I think maybe the Mormons in Utah do. I think it’s hilarious and very immature of a society—if two people are loving. I think we should be more concerned if two people express anger in love, than love."
The premise that deep opposition to homosexual practice is a mental disorder appears prominently in columnist Dru Sefton’s examination of the negative reaction to the film in her January 6 column. The article features the “expert” opinions of several researchers who see aversion to the film as “homophobia” and offers a good example of the homosexual propaganda machine at work.
Dr. Dean Hamer, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) researcher said to be investigating homophobia, was described as “a scientist who discovered genetic links to sexuality.” He commented, “It does seem to be almost culturally universal that heterosexual men can have a deep repulsion to overt homosexuality, but there is no study I know of to ascertain whether this is a biologically based trait.”
Actually, Dr. Hamer is a homosexual activist who has been searching unsuccessfully for a genetic link to homosexuality for many years. In 1993 he published some study results on gene position Xq28 that he alleged showed a genetic link to homosexuality. The study was widely reported in the press and touted as discovery of a “gay gene.”
However, his discovery did not hold up to scientific scrutiny. A much larger study by researchers George Rice and others concluded, “Our data do not support the presence of a gene of large effect influencing sexual orientation at position Xq28.” Reportedly, Dr. Hamer was later investigated by the NIH on charges of scientific fraud.
Dr. Simon LeVay, also said to be investigating homophobia, agreed with Dr. Hamer. “From a neurobiological basis, I just don’t think this response has been researched at that level, although it’s something that should be.”
Dr. LeVay is the author of the 1991 study, “A Difference in the Hypothalamic Structure Between Heterosexual and Homosexual Men.” The study, which was reported to have identified a physiological difference between gay and straight men, was later proved to be bogus. Dr. LeVay himself admitted, “I did not prove that homosexuality was genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay. I didn’t show that gay men are born that way, the most common mistake people make in interpreting my work.”
Dr. George Weinberg, a New York City psychologist and researcher, commented that the aversion to Brokeback Mountain is “definitely homophobia.” He said the film is “the idea of one man’s adoration for another. A love affair more deep and lasting and romantic than with their wives.” He advised that those who are uneasy about the film “first understand you have this problem. At least by acknowledging it, that’s a start. It’s like saying, ‘I have a fear of heights.’”
In reality it is not unusual, nor is it immoral, for a man to have a deep and affectionate bond with another man, but not the erotic relationship described by Dr. Weinberg. As a case in point, men often experience a sacrificial, moral love among comrades in arms, which is called agape love. The greatest example of such love was the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross: “For God so agapao the world, He gave His only begotten Son . . .”
Plainly, it is part of the gay rights strategy to portray homosexuality as “normal” and to marginalize—and even criminalize—the views of those who might expressly disagree. Brokeback Mountain has provided an opportunity for activists to take the debate over homosexuality to a new level and suggest that aversion to the practice may be a neurosis.
Thus, in one generation homosexuality has been removed from the DSM as a sexual disorder, and persons who find it abnormal and repulsive have been offered up in its place.
Notwithstanding, it is well established that the practice is repulsive, self-destructive, and corrosive to society, as both sacred and secular sources have emphatically stated for the last several thousand years. The fact that it is repulsive is both a bane and advantage to the homosexual rights movement. Because the topic is so unseemly, there is scant open discussion of homosexuality, and the public is understandably reluctant to seek out information on the subject. (For a peek through the window of reality of the homosexual lifestyle, visit gayhealth.com.)
It is an arrogant ploy on the part of gay activists to insinuate that people who find homosexual acts to be repulsive may be mentally disturbed. However, the good news is that such persons would not have to worry about being arrested under “hate crimes” statutes for voicing negative opinions about the lifestyle—they’re simply crazy.
Allan Dobras is a freelance writer on religious and cultural issues and an electronics engineer. He lives in Springfield, Virginia.
I agree. Islamic Jihadis are not the only enemies of freedom, truth and peace.
In fact, even if all Islamic jihadis gave up their hate and anger, or even if all Muslims converted back to the religions of their forefathers (since they are almost all descendents of Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and animists who were "converted" by the edge of a scimitar), we'd still have enemies who are intent on destroying human civilization. In fact, winning any war on terrorism will be worthless if we don't win the war on atheism, secular hedonism, feminism, and homosexualism.
Sorry, too much time trolling on DU
They picked their words carefully.
Phobia for example. I am not afraid of homosexuals and don't know anyone who is.
BTTT
Amen!
I would prefer not to know how queers consumate their marriage. No need to tell us of your answers.
"In other words, a person who views the legitimization of homosexuality as sinful, immoral, or destructive to society may have a mental disorder!"
A person who DOESN'T view it as sinful, immoral
AND destructive has a whacky moral compass.
Thanks for the ping, tutstar.
The point is the absurdity of the very idea.
You're right!
Every time I read something similar to this it just blows my mind. I can't believe that we've come to the point that "sin" isn't "sin".
Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil.
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