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To: r9etb
Actually, if you read it again, you'll see that the author doesn't even address the "born that way" side of the issue, except to say in passing that it's not genetic (i.e., not an inherited trait).

The author writes:

But the baseless claim, promoted by Justice Michael Kirby and others, that gays are just born that way, is given no support by the American Psychiatric Association.
He calls "born that way" baseless. He also states:

Homosexuality emerges in its truer light, not as a minority "genetic identity" but as a complex conditioned behaviour, which can and does change.

He writes:

As to the exact causes of homosexuality, the medical jury is still out. Their Fact Sheet on Sexual Orientation (2000) sums it up: "There are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality".
From that, he appears to invite us to draw an unwarranted conclusion: that it's all environment

No, he doesn't. He states the exact cause is unknown. Science tells us the major factor in determining homosexuality is environment. You can read about it if you care, as already pointed out.

47 posted on 06/25/2004 8:36:36 AM PDT by scripter (Thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
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To: scripter
The author equates "born that way" with "genetic." (Which is what "specific biological etiology" means.) And that is not what I'm saying.

"Genetics" isn't the only way one can be "born that way." It can be a personality trait -- a predisposition to be attracted to persons of the same sex.

If you've got more than one kid, you already know about how many personality traits are things we're born with. Many kids' personality traits are evident from the get-go. (For my daughter, her temper was even evident in utero)... ;-)

I have known enough kids who grew up to be homosexual, and known enough people with homosexual siblings, to understand that in some cases there really was an element of "always been that way." It's too bad -- it's a disorder -- but I believe they really were "born that way."

The author of this piece is trying to get us to buy off on a purely environmental model, which is not believable. In fact, it would appear to be furthering his political agenda -- which he most assuredly has.

61 posted on 06/25/2004 8:51:18 AM PDT by r9etb
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