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Scientists Outing ‘Gay Gene’ Myth
ncr ^ | July 24, 2009 | JANNEKE PIETERS

Posted on 07/24/2009 10:15:42 AM PDT by NYer

Twenty years ago, Greg Quinlan was living as a homosexual and was a homosexual-rights grassroots lobbyist. He had no doubt he was born homosexual.

Advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign, for which Quinlan worked, claim that homosexuals have the right to marry and adopt children. These rights are presumably based on the idea that sexual orientation cannot be changed.

“To whom one is drawn is a fundamental aspect of who we are,” proclaims the Human Rights Campaign website.

Yet, scientific, medical and professional groups increasingly acknowledge that the notion that same-sex attraction is inborn and unchangeable does not hold water.

“Heretofore, no clear-cut ‘gay gene’ has been found,” said Clinton Anderson, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Office at the American Psychological Association, in an e-mail to the Register. This does not rule out biological causality, he said. Last year, the APA changed its definition of homosexuality to increase emphasis on environmental causality.

Not all agree. Dean Hamer, a behavioral geneticist at the National Cancer Institute, published a controversial study on male twins in 1993 that indicated a gene on the X chromosome linked to male sexual orientation.

Hamer told the Register that “sexual orientation has a very strong genetic and biological influence” from a combination of “anywhere between a dozen to hundreds of genes” that scientists have not identified. Hamer’s study has not been replicated.

Homosexuality is not genetically “hardwired,” according to Dr. Francis Collins, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work sequencing the human genetic code. Any genetic contribution to male homosexuality represents a predisposition, not a predetermination, he stated.

If genetics were determinative, then identical twins should “virtually always” show the same pattern of same-sex attraction, said the Catholic Medical Association. But a study of the Australian Twin Registry cited by CMA showed that only 11% of identical twins with same-sex attraction had a twin brother who also experienced it.


An Emotional Breach

The causes of same-sex attraction are more complicated.

Quinlan recalls being physically abused by his father as a child. “He was beating me and I remember yelling, ‘You hate me, don’t you?’ And my father yelled, ‘Yes, [expletive], I hate you!’”

Certain “family dynamics that are scientifically validated” are at the root of same-sex attraction, psychologist Joseph Nicolosi told the Register. Nicolosi is director of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and treats clients with unwanted same-sex attraction. Same-sex attraction, at its root, is not biological but emotional, he said.

Male clients often report having “a distant, detached, critical father and an over-involved, intrusive mother,” said Nicolosi. Female same-sex attraction is more complex but follows a similar pattern, he said.

Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, a psychiatrist with 30 years of clinical experience, has drawn similar conclusions. Men with same-sex attraction demonstrate “weakness in male confidence” resulting from “deficient bonding” with the father, Fitzgibbons said. The result is a sexualized desire to bond with another male, which therapists call the “reparative urge.”

Quinlan’s first sexual experience occurred at age 11 with a male friend. “I got something I was missing,” he recalled. “For the first time, I received approval, affirmation and affection from a male.”

Both Nicolosi and Fitzgibbons have seen reparative therapy work for their clients. Thirty percent return to normal heterosexual attraction, 30% reduce same-sex attraction, and 30% show no change. The latter usually have been coerced into therapy or have some overriding psychological issue like addiction, said Nicolosi.

The APA plans to adopt a model for reparative therapy based on forthcoming research.

In this light, the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching that the homosexual inclination is “objectively disordered” and “constitutes a trial” for most of the men and women who experience it takes on profounder meaning (see No. 2358).

Mythical Victory

Despite scientific and psychiatric evidence to the contrary, the media, culture, government, schools and even some in the Church perpetuate the myth that same-sex attraction is inborn. For that, promoters of homosexuality can claim a victory.

Research used by homosexual activists shows that public opinion regarding homosexuality will change if people believe it is genetic. “To the extent people are not responsible,” said Nicolosi, “their behavior will be tolerated.”

Friends and families of persons struggling with same-sex attraction should provide them with the hope (and resources) that they can change if they want to, said Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays.

“‘Gay’ is not an identity: It is a feeling and a decision to act on those feelings,” said Griggs, whose son has same-sex attraction. “It’s never a choice to have those feelings,” she added.

Quinlan made the decision to quit the homosexual lifestyle cold turkey not because his feelings toward men changed, but because he was deeply unhappy. “I was sick of it, and I knew what I was doing was wrong,” he said.

He eventually deepened his relationship with God, which led to forgiving his abusive father. That burden released, his same-sex attraction diminished.

Today, Quinlan is a pro-family lobbyist. “I am doing for the Lord what I used to do for the gay-rights movement,” he says. “I hope I can make up for some of it.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gay; genetics; homoexual; homosexualagenda
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More Information
Catholic Medical Association
CathMed.org

National Association for Research
and Therapy of Homosexuality
NARTH.org

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and
Gays
PFOX.org

1 posted on 07/24/2009 10:15:43 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 07/24/2009 10:16:26 AM PDT by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
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To: little jeremiah; ItsOurTimeNow; wagglebee

There is no gay gene, ping!


3 posted on 07/24/2009 10:17:58 AM PDT by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
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To: NYer

I wonder if denying a gay-gene will become like denying global warming.


4 posted on 07/24/2009 10:23:05 AM PDT by rom (Israel got Saul before they got David. Where's our David?)
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To: NYer

Homosexuality is an OCD focusing on one’s own genitalia.


5 posted on 07/24/2009 10:28:40 AM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Palin shrugged.)
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To: NYer

Thank you for spelling gene in lower case. I’m getting a complex from everything I’m blamed for.


6 posted on 07/24/2009 10:29:45 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: massgopguy

There is a gay Gene. He lives down the street with gay Bob.


7 posted on 07/24/2009 10:38:21 AM PDT by TruthShallSetYouFree (Kenya tell me where Obama was born?)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Three is no “Gay Gene”

“Butt” beware of GAYS IN YOUR JEANS!


8 posted on 07/24/2009 10:41:07 AM PDT by outhousepatrol
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To: NYer

While no one in my immediate family is homosexual, everyone that I have known that is has been so miserable with it that I cannot totally discount the idea that it may indeed have a strong genetic component.

The shame and ridicule they experience makes me believe that most would not be that way by choice.

There is still a lot we don’t understand about the influence of genetics, so I try to keep an open mind.

What I do strongly resent is the promotion/ indoctrination efforts by that community in our schools.


9 posted on 07/24/2009 11:22:19 AM PDT by EEDUDE
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To: NYer

There is a critical element missing from the debate, that further complicates things. Importantly, though, it distinguishes humans from animals.

About halfway through gestation in mammals and humans, the testes of a male fetus excrete a small amount of testosterone, which is carried in their blood to their brain. This tells the male fetus’ brain that it should be a “male brain”. If this testosterone is not received, the brain of a fetus is, by default, female.

This process can, and is sometimes interfered with, both naturally and artificially. However, and this is the zinger, in animals, it will determine sexual behavior—but NOT in humans.

In humans, a person will be more masculine or more feminine, based on having a male or female brain, but it will NOT determine who they are sexually attracted to.

If a female animal receives testosterone in its brain, it will try and mate as if it was a male. If a male animal does not receive testosterone in its brain, it will exhibit female mating behavior.

Scientists even tried limiting testosterone to half of an animals brain, and discovered that it exhibits *both* male and female mating behavior.

But in humans, this is not the case. Even if all testosterone is blocked from reaching the brain of a male fetus, while the adult male will be very feminine in their behavior, liking and disliking what females normally like and dislike, the odds are strongly against their being homosexual. That is, even if they are very feminine, they will still have only an ordinary statistical chance of being homosexual.

Conversely, if a female human fetus gets testosterone in her brain, as an adult she will be very much a “tomboy”, but still be strongly sexually attracted to men, outside the usual statistical occurrence of lesbianism.

This was first examined by researchers in the 1960s, then the research was duplicated by the government at a much larger scale in the 1980s. The reason for this was increasing concern that chemicals in the environment could interfere with this process.

For example, farmers frequently use plant estrogen on their crops, both for size and yield. But plant estrogen is similar to human estrogen, and estrogen can interfere with testosterone. So the fear was that using plant estrogen on food crops could result in widespread homosexuality.

Which didn’t happen.

In the final analysis, this research should boost those that believed homosexuality is a social, not exclusively biological development. And if it is a learned social behavior, it might be unlearned.


10 posted on 07/24/2009 11:22:39 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: NYer

The ‘gay gene’ theory has had its ups and downs. It was first proposed by a California professor back several decades ago (the sixties?) and the gay community attacked him and the theory. Being gay was deemed to be a lifestyle choice by proud gays at the time.

However, that changed with the advent of AIDs in the 70s & 80s. After all, there wouldn’t be any research funding for solutions to a lifestyle choice. The solution would simply be “Quit doing that and you won’t catch Aids.”

Ah, but if it were a genetic mandate, then the Aids sufferer had no responsibility for his malady. He was a victim of his genes and the rest of society needed to assist in developing a research program that would save all these victims.

Lots of research money was forthcoming after that gay gene argument was put forth and you don’t hear anything about a lifestyle choice much any more.


11 posted on 07/24/2009 11:23:57 AM PDT by wildbill
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To: NYer; All
Certain “family dynamics that are scientifically validated” are at the root of same-sex attraction, psychologist Joseph Nicolosi told the Register. Nicolosi is director of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and treats clients with unwanted same-sex attraction. Same-sex attraction, at its root, is not biological but emotional, he said. -snip- The result is a sexualized desire to bond with another male, which therapists call the “reparative urge.” Quinlan’s first sexual experience occurred at age 11 with a male friend. “I got something I was missing,” he recalled. “For the first time, I received approval, affirmation and affection from a male.”

Some of us remember being taught this in university psychology courses (at least through the late 80's). And that it explained the choice of same sex relationships for some but not all, as chromosomal and other biochemical factors did explain it for others.

12 posted on 07/24/2009 11:30:22 AM PDT by fortunecookie (Please pray for Anna, age 7, who waits for a new kidney.)
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To: EEDUDE
Compulsions that are born of early childhood abuse are very powerful - they need not be inborn to take control of somebody's life, even though they affect them in very negative ways.

Most people with some sort of pathology are miserable, and most want out of it. But it's always easier to go with the flow rather than make the great effort that's necessary to change your deep-seated habits -- even if you have to put up with shame and ridicule.

And these days, the shame and ridicule is pretty minimal if you move somewhere like the Castro or Inman Park. Which is why there are so many more in-your-face homosexual agitators than there used to be.

13 posted on 07/24/2009 11:51:13 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: AnAmericanMother

I’ve known homosexual people throughout my adult life. “Pain and ridicule” is part of what each was looking for. They lived the victimhood to the max. Including my own sister.


14 posted on 07/24/2009 12:45:52 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: netmilsmom

It happens. My brother in law was the same way. Prima donna victim.


15 posted on 07/24/2009 1:48:44 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: NYer

Where I grew up we had this girl in our neighborhood that was pretty fat — cute, but pretty fat. Anyway, someone suggested that she stop stuffing tweenkies in her mouth...low and behold, she dropped the weight and today, is really rather gorgeous...because someone suggested that she stop stuffing tweenkies her mouth and she followed a simple suggestion. Hhhhhmmmm, somehow, that same logic just seems to fit with someone thinking that they are a homosexual...I’m mean, you really only get fat stuffing tweenkies in your mouth...


16 posted on 07/24/2009 3:01:36 PM PDT by areukiddingme1 (areukiddingme1 is a synonym for a Retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and tired of liberal BS.))
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To: areukiddingme1
that same logic just seems to fit with someone thinking that they are a homosexual..

You're absolutely right. Unfortunately, as already pointed out, the GLBT protagonists have already 'sold' society on homosexuality being genetic. This has garnered sympathetic support from Joe citizen all the way up to the President. And we, the taxpayer, will pay the ultimate price.

17 posted on 07/24/2009 4:00:59 PM PDT by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
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To: NYer

Other than cases where people have definite chromosomal issues, (very small minority of a small minority) like and extra X or SRY issues.

I think most of the inborn “gayness” has to do with pre-natal exposure to estrogens and androgens. Stress levels int he om have been shown to affect this as well as maternal exposure to phyto-estrogens.

I think there are some people who are naturally Bi-sexual, and they can swing either way and these people are the ones that “recruiting” works on because they are not giving up something they think they “like”.


18 posted on 07/24/2009 5:03:36 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: NYer

I’ve never heard of this guy, Quinlan. If he’s for real, what a wonderful testimony to the real possibility that there’s hope for transformation from homosexual attraction. I don’t know why he’s been kept under raps. Perhaps the Gaystapo has a contract out for him.


19 posted on 07/24/2009 5:07:03 PM PDT by fwdude (Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.)
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To: EEDUDE
There is still a lot we don’t understand about the influence of genetics,

With all due respect - rubbish.

Evolution is only possible with HETEROSEXUAL relationships, this is concrete and has not changed for millions of years.

20 posted on 07/24/2009 7:54:12 PM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (Arjuna, why have you have dropped your bow???)
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