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Furore Over Study That Suggests 'Cure' For Homosexuality
Independent (UK) ^
| 10-6-2003
| Steve Connor
Posted on 10/05/2003 3:56:36 PM PDT by blam
Furore over study that suggests 'cure' for homosexuality
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
06 October 2003
A study showing that it may be possible to change the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians has reopened the debate over whether people are born homosexual or straight.
Research that demonstrates some homosexual men and women were capable of becoming "predominantly" heterosexual through psychotherapy has created a furore within academia.
The study was based on interviews with 200 men and women who claimed to have had their gay preferences changed in therapy - often provided by religious organisations that believe homosexuality is a developmental abnormality.
Critics believe the study is flawed but supporters argue that it exposes the myth that homosexuality is "hard-wired" at birth, which would mean that nothing can be done to alter a person's preordained sexuality. The findings are being taken seriously because the study - published in the current issue of Archives of Sexual Behaviour - was conducted by Robert Spitzer, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York.
Professor Spitzer is an eminent authority on sexual orientation and, in 1973, was instrumental in having homosexuality removed from the American Psychiatric Association's list of mental illnesses.
Most homosexuals are happy with their sexual preferences but a small minority are not and would like to adopt a more heterosexual lifestyle, Professor Spitzer said. "It's better not to consider homosexuality as a mental disorder. But I do believe that people who are bothered by their homosexuality have a right to have this therapy," he said.
"The current, politically correct view is that this therapy never works. I think it doesn't work a lot of the time but in some people it does," he said.
"In some of the subjects, the reports of change in sexual orientation were substantial, credible and believable."
The 200 homosexual participants in the study - 143 men and 57 women - came mostly from the US and Canada but a few came from Europe. All claimed that therapy had altered to some extent the way they looked upon the same sex.
The therapy involved a range of psychological techniques, mostly of the "self control" variety, such as avoiding tempting situations, stopping erotic thoughts from developing or mixing socially with straight men and women in non-sexual situations.
Critics of "reparative therapy" argue that it is only effective in getting people to resist their instinctive feelings, simply making them believe that they no longer feel sexually attracted to the same sex.
But Professor Spitzer said the findings show that to be untrue: "This study provides evidence that some gay men and lesbians are able to also change the core features of sexual orientation. Almost all of the participants reported substantial changes in the core aspects of sexual orientation, not merely overt behaviour," he said.
Estimates of how many people are gay vary from about 3 per cent of the population to 10 per cent or slightly higher. Professor Spitzer said he does not know how many of these men and women could be able to change their sexual orientation if they wanted to.
"I suspect it's quite unusual and quite rare. It also depends on what is meant by change. Some may not be able to go as far as experiencing heterosexual arousal," he said.
John Bancroft, an eminent sexologist at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute in Bloomington, said that the Spitzer study's principle strength is that it has been conducted on a relatively large number of people, but he nevertheless has serious reservations.
"First and foremost, the sample consists of men and women who principally sought treatment because of their religious beliefs and who were presenting themselves as evidence that such change was both possible and desirable," Professor Bancroft said.
"Secondly, it is very difficult to discern from this study just what 'reparative therapy' had involved. At best, it has been a long process, with a substantial minority still continuing in ongoing therapy after many years," he said.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: columbiau; cure; exgays; furore; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; prisoners; recovery; robertspitzer; study; therapy
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1
posted on
10/05/2003 3:56:37 PM PDT
by
blam
To: blam
I suspect that homosexuality is somewhat like alcoholism. In some cases, there may be a genetic prediposition for it, which may be reinforced by environmental factors.
To: All
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3
posted on
10/05/2003 3:59:43 PM PDT
by
Support Free Republic
(Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
To: blam
..."debate over whether people are born homosexual or straight.."
The answer is obvious.. if homosexuality were inherited, would it not be eliminated as homosexuals don't reproduce? (oops I forgot about Arianna Huffington's ex..)
4
posted on
10/05/2003 3:59:44 PM PDT
by
Zipporah
To: blam
'Cure' For Homosexuality
A good start :)
5
posted on
10/05/2003 4:03:18 PM PDT
by
DCBryan1
To: blam
I guess I've been around here for about 6 years or so now. Time sure flies!
When Jim Robinson started this site, it was because he was fed up with the liberal media, and how they would not let people worldwide know about the corruption of the Clinton Administration. A few of us, equally concerned, (with great luck) found it fast.
In the early days, FR was a day-to-day operation, always on the brink of bankruptcy. Jim kept on, and we chipped in when it became too much. We knew how important this site was, and is. Sometimes, it came down to the wire, and we wrote checks, and sent them in, as best we could.
Look at it now. We all get our best information from this site. It is huge, with thousands of posters, and millions of readers. Yet Jim still keeps it alive because of his conviction, and he is absolutely NOT making a profit on it. He just believes. As do we.
BTW, did you know that the founder of this site is in a wheelchair (sorry Jim; I know you think it doesn't make a r*ts a$$ difference. Hey, some folks out there need to come down a peg, like I have.).
Think of it! In the darkest days of the Clinton Administration, there was a lone internet site where people with integrity, brains, and sheer gumption could discuss the dangers faced by the US. Not on CNN, for sure.
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6
posted on
10/05/2003 4:04:26 PM PDT
by
MonroeDNA
(Please become a monthly donor!!! Just $3 a month--you won't miss it, and will feel proud!)
To: independentmind
I believe that homosexual conduct is just a symptom of a disorder or a combination of disorders. If the disorder can be "cured" then there will be no more need for the conduct.
7
posted on
10/05/2003 4:05:17 PM PDT
by
FreePaul
To: FreePaul
I believe that homosexual conduct is just a symptom of a disorder or a combination of disorders. If the disorder can be "cured" then there will be no more need for the conduct. I don't disagree with you. Just as with alcoholism, tendencies can be controlled.
To: blam
10+% of the population gay? Sure...
It seems to me the more established estimates are around 1-2%. If it was 10% or more, homosexuals would be about as numerous as say, blacks, and would easily give the Democrat party a victory in every election held in America.
To: MonroeDNA
"Would you please, please consider signing up for just $3 a month? " Thanks but I already contribute ten (10) times that amount each month.
10
posted on
10/05/2003 4:09:56 PM PDT
by
blam
Comment #11 Removed by Moderator
To: scripter
ping
To: blam
Truth always makes the Thought Gestapo vicious.
Note that even if a study hints that it may be possible for a homosexual to change his orientation, the Gaystapo flies into an insane rage and the hate-mutants try to destroy those seeking the truth.
13
posted on
10/05/2003 4:21:08 PM PDT
by
Skooz
(All Hail the Mighty Kansas City Chiefs)
To: BabaOreally
It can't be entirely a matter of choice. Otherwise, how can we explain those homosexual "men" who are very slight, have smooth skin and almost no Adam's apple, have feminine facial bone structure, narrow shoulders, and small graceful hands? How do you explain the sad case who is working at a local store--a boy who has broad hips that make him inadvertently have a feminine wiggle when he walks? No facial hair at 22, no chest or arm hair, a female hairline, a fragile little female nose--these are not things he got from surgery, but they developed as he hit puberty. He says he's saving up for a sex-change operation because the doctors are telling him that there's no way male hormone injections will make him lose his wide, tall pelvis and pretty face. I feel sorry for the unfortunate creature and I do not believe this was a matter of choice on his part.
14
posted on
10/05/2003 4:21:26 PM PDT
by
Capriole
(Foi vainquera)
To: independentmind
As I recall, some experts said there was about a 20% predisposition from genetics and early gestation biochemical factors.
The rest was/is considered to be environmental after birth.
The gestation aspect is that mothers who are experiencing a significant degree of chronic stress during the first trimester of pregnancy tend to produce a significantly higher percentage of sons who end up acting out a homosexual orientation.
Other genetic factors can be a sensitive, gentle, quiet, artistic etc. sort of temperament WHICH ENDS UP MATCHED WITH DESTRUCTIVE-TO-HETEROSEXUALITY parenting factors:
Those, of course, are the stereotypic cold, distant, harsh, absent, *UN*AFFECTIONATE and/or abusive father and/or a cold, harsh, shrill, punitive, controlling, smothering, distant and/or abusive mother.
15
posted on
10/05/2003 4:21:49 PM PDT
by
Quix
(DEFEAT her unroyal lowness, her hideous heinous Bwitch Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de MarxNOW)
To: blam
Only 10% of homosexual men are born that way. The rest just get sucked into it.
To: independentmind
I read a book a few years ago by a guy who had treated thousands of homosexuals. He said it wasn't genetic, but it was rooted very early in life - by 3 or so. He said if someone wanted to change, then about half the time he could help them. The other half found it extremely difficult to change. Of course, he could speak about those who did NOT want to change.
He also distinguished between voluntary & involuntary homosexuals. The involuntary ones I mentioned above. The voluntary ones became homosexual in their teens or because they thought it was cool. They could 'change' very easily.
To: Bubba_Leroy
But some of those get spit out.
18
posted on
10/05/2003 4:37:02 PM PDT
by
Redcoat LI
("If you're going to shoot,shoot,don't talk" Tuco BenedictoPacifico Juan Maria Ramirez)
To: blam
Estimates of how many people are gay vary from about 3 per cent of the population to 10 per cent or slightly higher. Actually, BEST estimates are about 2.2 for men and 1.8 percent for women.
19
posted on
10/05/2003 4:39:21 PM PDT
by
cinFLA
Comment #20 Removed by Moderator
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