The Born Gay Hoax
The Born Gay Hoax
Thisbookisdedicatedtotherisinggeneration
TheBornGayHoax
RyanSorba
Contents 1. TheNatureofSodomythroughoutHistory 2. TheOriginoftheGayIdentity 3. TheProSodomyMovementinAmerica 4. AlfredC.Kinsey 5. TheSexualRevolution 6. TheStonewallRiotsandthePoliticizationofSodomy 7. TheIntimidationoftheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation 8. TheBornGayHoax 9. TheStudiesExposed 10.TheDevelopmentofSameSexAttraction 11.AreReversalsPossible? 12.HyprocisyandChange 13.TheIntimidationofReparativeTherapists 14.BornStraight 15.IsSodomyNaturalbecauseitOccursinNature? 16.WhatifBeingGaywasNatural? 17.TheLawofNature 18.TheDangersofSodomy 19.Recruitment 5 [tbc] [tbc] [tbc] 94 91 88 80 74 61 45 37 28 20 15 13 9 [tbc] 6
17
2 TheOriginoftheGayIdentity
UraniansoftheWorld,Unite! (ActivistSlogan)
Alittleoveronehundredandfiftyyearsago,thefirstconceptofaninborn
homosexualconditionbegantocirculateinGermany.Priortothistimethereis noknownrecordofanyhumanbeingeverclaimingtohavebeenbornwith samesexattractions(SSA).TheoriginatorofthenovelconceptwasKarl HeinrichUlrichs(182595).Ulrichs,thegrandfatheroftheworldgayrights movementwasalawyer,politicalactivist,andknownpedophile.Attheageof fourteenUlrichswasseducedbyhisridinginstructor,amanaboutthirtyyears old.1Observersfamiliarwiththehighcorrelationbetweenchildhoodsexual molestationandadultsamesexattractionmightconcludethatthisyouthful experiencewasthecauseofUlrichssfixation. Circa1860,inanefforttogarnersupporttorepealParagraph175ofthe GermanPenalCodewhichcriminalizedsodomy,Ulrichsbegantospreada theorythatdefinedindividualsexperiencingSSAasmembersofathird gender.Ulrichsproposedthatindividualswhodevelopsamesexattractiondo sobecauseofapsychospiritualmixup,inwhichamansbodybecomes inhabitedbyawomanssoul(andviceversaforwomen).Ulrichscoinedthe termsUrning(male)andDailing(female)torefertomembersofthisthird gender,whichwasneithermalenorfemale,butacombinationofboth.The termUranianwasintroducedin1862asanewdesignationforsamegender sexualityingeneral(bothUrningsandDailings).HetookthetermfromPlatos Symposium,inwhichsamesexErosissaidtofallundertheprotectionofthe ninthmuse,Urania.Ulrichsreasonedthatsincesamesexattractionswere natural,sodomyshouldnotbecriminalized. AlthoughUlrichswasunabletoabolishthesodomylaw,hiseffortswere influentialnonetheless,asevidencedbytheswellofpoliticalactivismandpublic sympathyforUraniansduringhistime.Itwasamidstthischangingpolitical
Kennedy,Hubert.Man/BoyLoveintheWritingofKarlHeinrichUlrichsKennedyinPascal, Mark(ed.)p.15.
climatethataGermanHungarianwriternamedKarolyMariaBenkert(182482) writingunderthepseudonymKarolyMariaKertbeny,coinedtheterm homosexualinanopenlettertothePrussianMinisterofJusticein1869.2Prior tothis,menandwomenwhoengageinsamegendersexactswereknownas sodomites,pederasts,orKnabenschaender(literally,boyravishers).3 UlrichsandKertbenyunderstoodthatpublicoppositiontosodomysprang fromthepeoplesunderstandingofitasanunnaturalandirrationalact.Inorder tocounterthebehavioralconnotationsinextricablylinkedwithtermslike sodomiteandboyravisher,UlrichsandKertbenysetouttocoinnewterms thatwouldrefertoasexualidentity,ratherthanaspecificbehavior.Theywere successful.Infact,theirmostinfluentialaccomplishmentsprovedtobethe coiningofthetermsUranianandhomosexual.Duringthistime,German menwhowereengaginginsodomybegantorefertothemselvesasUranians, andamilitantslogan,UraniansoftheWorld,Unite!wasusedinternationally.4 AlthoughUlrichssidentitybasedtermwouldfailtosticklongterm,Kertbenys term,homosexual,provedtohavemorelastingappeal. SocialcriticMarkSteyndescribeshowthecoiningoftermsbyactivistshas playedacentralroleinthemovementtonormalizesamegendersexualactivity bysubtlyinfluencingpublicopinionviathelexicon.Historically,Steynexplains, moralconcernforsexualactivitybetweentwopersonsofthesamegenderwas identifiedassodomy,anact.Onecaneitherthinkofsodomyasacceptableor unacceptable;eitherway,itisanactthatsomeonechooses.Then,Steynexplains thatinthelatenineteenthcentury,theactwasredescribedasaconditionof certainpersons,anditwastermedhomosexuality.Next(onlyafewdecades ago)homosexualitywasupgradedagain,thistimereferringtoapersonsvery identity,sothatnowweidentifypeopleasbeinggay,orstraight,or somewhereinbetween.Nowthetermdescribeswhoapersonis.Ithasbecome asfundamentaltoonesidentityasrace.Steynexplains,Eachformulationraises thestakes:Onecanobjecttoandevencriminalizeanact;oneisobligatedtobe sympathetictowardacondition;butonceitsafullfledged24/7identity,like beingHispanicorInuit,anythinglessthanwholeheartedacceptancegetsyou markeddownasabigot.5 Ulrichsssociopoliticalstrategyestablisheditselfasaworkingmodelin latenineteenthcenturyGermany.However,oncomingpoliticalturmoilboth
2
Lauritsen,John,andThorstad,David;TheEarlyHomosexualRightsMovement:18641935; NewYork,TimesChangePress,1974,p6
Steakly,JamesD.,TheHomosexualEmancipationMovementinGermany.NewYork,ArnoPress,1975p.13)allterms
3 TheProSodomyMovementinAmerica
ThepositivegoalistherevivalofHellenicchivalryanditsrecognitionbysociety.By chivalriclovewemeaninparticularclosefriendshipsbetweenyouthsandevenmore particularlythebondsbetweenmenofunequalages.6 (AdolfBrand,Activist) ShortlyafterUlrichssdeathin1895,theprosodomymovementin Germanysplitintotwoseparateandopposedfactions.Onefactionfollowed UlrichsssuccessorMagnusHirschfield,theotherayounganarchist,Adolf Brand.Whatdividedthemovementwasgenderidentity.Hirschfieldandhis followersembracedaneffeminateidentity,asinthetraditionofUlrichs,while Brandandhisfollowersperceivedthemselvesashypermasculine,asinthe Greektradition. In1897,MagnusHirschfieldformedtheScientificHumanitarian Committee(SHC).TheSHCwasdedicatedtotwoUlrichsiangoals.Thefirstwas tooverturnparagraph175oftheGermanPenalCodewhichcriminalized sodomy,andthesecondwastoworktolegitimizeactsofsodomywithinthe Germanculture.AlthoughHirschfieldwasoriginallycommittedtoUlrichss thirdgendertheoryofaninbornUraniancondition,helaterabandonedit. Hirschfieldbelievedpersonsexperiencingsamesexattractionstobethesexual equivalentofhandicapped,duetoahormonalimbalance.Healsoconsidered samesexattractiontobecurable,throughhormonetreatment.The acknowledgementofacurablesamesexattractionundoubtedlyaroseafter Hirschfieldobservedthegeneralsexualconfusionofpatientswithsamesex attractionathisInstituteforSexResearchinBerlin,whichwasthepredecessorto AlfredKinseysInstituteforSexResearchintheU.S.,foundedin1947. AlthoughHirschfieldsfemfactiondominatedtheearlyprosodomy movementinGermany,otheractivists,suchasAdolfBrandandhisfollowers, perceivedthemselvesasfullymasculineanddespisedeverythingeffeminate. Soon,theseapposingactivistsformedtheirownseparateorganization. OnMay1,1902,threepederasts,AdolfBrand,WihelmJansen,and
6
B.Friedlander:259
BenedictFriedlanderformedTheCommunityoftheSpecial(CS).TheCS fashionedthemselvesasamodernincarnationofthewarriorcultsofancient Greece,Sparta,Thebes,andCrete.MembersoftheCSwereultramasculine, malesupremacistsandpederastic(devotedtoman/boysex).Brandoncewrote thathewantedmenwhothirstforarevivalofGreektimesandHellenic standardsofbeautyaftercenturiesofChristianBarbarism.TheCSwanted Germansocietytoreverttopaganvalues:Thepositivegoalistherevivalof Hellenicchivalryanditsrecognitionbysociety.Bychivalriclovewemeanin particularclosefriendshipsbetweenyouthsandevenmoreparticularlythe bondsbetweenmenofunequalages.7 AdolfBrandpublishedthefirstprosodomymagazineinGermany,Der Eigene(TheSpecial).In1903,Brandwasbrieflyjailedasachildpornographer forincludingpicturesofnudeboysinhismagazine.Nevertheless,DerEigene remainedinpublicationuntil1931,peakingatover150,000subscriptionsduring theyearsoftheWeimerRepublic.InadditiontoDerEigene,Brandpublisheda satiricaljournalentitledDieTante(TheFairyorTheAuntie)whichoften ridiculedtheeffeminateHirschfieldandhisfollowers.8 Astheriftbetweenthehyperfeminineandhypermasculinefactionsof theprosodomymovementwidened,andastherevivalofpaganHellenicvalues begantotransformGermansociety,thehypermasculinewingledbyBrand becameaseriouspoliticalforce.In1919,HansKahnertalongwithother supportersofthehypermasculinefactionfoundedtheSocietyforHuman Rights(SHR).ThebutchesSHRquicklyoutgrewthefemsSHCand becamethelargestprosodomyorganizationinGermanyduringthe1920s. ThefirstprosodomyorganizationintheUnitedStateswasanAmerican chapterofHansKanhertsGermanbasedSocietyforHumanRights(SHR). TheAmericanSHRwasfoundedonDecember10,1924inChicagobythe GermanAmerican,HenryGerber(18921972).9GerberservedwiththeU.S. occupationforcesinGermanyfrom192023.Whileoverseas,Gerberbecame involvedwiththeGermanSHR.WhenGerberreturnedtoAmerica,helegally charteredanSHRchaptertogetherwithasmallgroupofrevolutionaries, withoutrevealingitspurposetothestate.Soon,theybeganpublishingapro sodomyjournalcalledFriendshipandFreedom,10patternedaftertheGerman chapterspublicationofthesamename.11 In1925,theorganizationcollapsedwhenHenryGerber,VicePresidentAl
B.Friedlander:259 OosterhaisandKennedy:6 9J.Katz:388 10ibid.:389 11ibid.:632n
7 8
10
Menninger,andanothermemberwerearrestedonchargesofsexuallyabusinga boy.AllthreewereturnedinbyMenningerswife.TheChicagoExaminerranthe story:StrangeSexCultExposedandspokeofstrangedoingsinMenningers apartment.Menningerconfessed,butGerberclaimedthattheincidentwasaset up,sayingthattheirarrestswereshadesoftheHolyInquisition.12 UponGerbersreleasefromprisonhecontinuedhisactivism undergroundbywritingunderthepennameParisex.Healsoretainedhisties totheGermanSHRandpublishedseveralarticlesintheirpublication.Gerber resurfacedin1934,whenhejoinedthestaffofaprosodomyliterarymagazine calledChanticleer.13InChanticleer,Gerberrevealedhimselfasamilitantsocialist whoregardedcapitalismandChristianityasthetwinpillarsofignoranceand repressionofsexualfreedom.14DespiteGerberswork,hischapteroftheSHR wasonlyanaberration.Thedemandandleadershipforasustainingprosodomy organizationintheUnitedStateswouldnotemergeuntil1948. OnAugust10,1948,atthetailendofaneighteenyearstintasan Americancommunistpartyleader,Henry(Harry)Hay(19122002)whois regardedasthefounderofthemoderngayrightsmovementbeganto organizeagroupthatwouldeventuallycometobeknownastheMattachine Society.15Althoughthesocietydidnotofficiallyreceiveitsnameuntilthespring of1951,itwasseenfromthebeginningasavehicletodestroysocialrestraints againstsodomyinAmericanculture.16 Attheageoffourteen,HenryHay,likeKarlHeinrichUlrichs,was sexuallyabusedbyanolderman(inthiscase,amanabout25yearsold).17Later inlife,Haydefinedhimselfasaneopaganandparticipatedintheocculticrituals attheLosAngeleslodgeoftheOrderoftheEasternTemple(O.T.O.),Aleister CrowleysnotoriousantiChristianspiritualgroup.18Hayalsoprovidedmusical accompanimenttoceremoniesperformedbythelesbianhighpriestess.Healso foundedaNewAgegroupcalledRadicalFaeries,whichmetinanasramin thehighdesertofArizonatoofferinvocationstopaganspirits.19Hayalso believedpederasty(man/boysex)tobeanessentialpartoftheprosodomy movementinAmericaandopenlyendorsedtheNorthAmericanMan/BoyLove
11
Association.20 HenryHaywasKarlHeinrichUlrichssAmericancounterpartinseveral ways.Bothmenlaunchedenduringsocialmovementsintheirrespective cultures.TheavowedpurposeofeachwastounderminetheJudeoChristian moralconsensusinrespecttoactsofsodomy,andbothhadbeensexuallyabused atayoungage.UnlikeUlrichs,however,Haybecameincreasinglymilitantas timewenton.Untilinthe1980sheparticipatedinCaliforniasnotoriously violentACTUP(AIDSCoalitiontoUnleashPower)demonstrations.21Though Haywasinhis70sandisnotdirectlylinkedwithanyoftheproperty destructionassociatedwithACTUP,hispresencevalidatedtheterroristtactics ofthegroup. HenryHaysMattachineSocietyspawnedlargescaleprosodomy politicalandsocialactivismthatsoonoutgrewbothhisexpectationsandcontrol. Hayshighlymotivatedactivistsoperatedingroupsdesignedlikecommunist cells,eachasecretfraternityboundbyacommonvice.AsHaystatedinalater interview,[wewantedto]keepthemundergroundandseparatedsothatnoone groupcouldeverknowwhoalltheothermemberswere.22Slowlyatfirst,from innumerableobscuresourcescametheories,publicstatements,andactionsin supportofthesocialacceptanceofhomosexuality.Andasthepowerofthe prosodomypoliticallobbygrew,sodidtheuglinessofitsdemandsandits methods.
ibid.:296 ibid.:292 22J.Katz:410
20 21
12
4 AlfredC.Kinsey
Peopleseemtothinkthatany(sexual)contactbetweenchildrenandadultshasabad effectonthechild.Isaythiscanbealovingandthoughtful,responsiblesexual activity.23 (WardellPomeroy,AssistanttoAlfredKinsey) WhileHenryHaywaspreparingtotaketheprosodomymovement publicwiththeMattachineSociety,prosodomyactivismcontinuedthrough hiddencellgroupsandindividualactivists.AlfredC.Kinsey,whoisknown todayastheFatheroftheSexualRevolution,wasonesuchactivist.In1947, KinseysecuredfundingfromtheRockefellerFoundationandfoundedthe InstituteforSexResearchatIndianaUniversity.TheInstitute,whichlater changeditsnametotheKinseyInstitute,shouldberecognizedasthe AmericancounterpartandsuccessortoprosodomyactivistMagnus HirschfieldsGermanbasedInstituteforSexResearch.Sointertwinedwerethe twothatE.MichaelJones,editorofFidelitymagazine,oncetoldauthorDr.Scott LivelythathehadperuseddocumentsfromtheBerlinInstituteforSexResearch inthebasementoftheKinseybuilding. InthebroadtraditionofKarlHeinrichUlrichs,MagnusHirschfield,and AdolfBrand,AlfredKinseyandhisassistantswerededicatedtothe normalizationofsexualdeviancy,includingbothsodomyandpederasty. ResearchersJudithReismanandEdwardEichelexplain:Itisclearthathe [Kinsey]shared[coresearcherWardell]PomeroysviewthatChristians inheritedanalmostparanoidapproachtosexualbehaviorfromtheJews.24 HavingabandonedtheJudeoChristiansexualethic,Kinseyandhis assistantPomeroycametobeknownfortheirsupportofpedophilia.Ina1992 articleonthesubject,authorMichaelEbertquotesPomeroyassaying,People
13
seemtothinkthatany(sexual)contactbetweenchildrenandadultshasabad effectonthechild.Isaythiscanbealovingandthoughtful,responsiblesexual activity.25Thus,itbecamethegoalofKinseyandPomeroytoreinforcetheir viewsofsodomy,pedophilia,andotherformsofsexualdeviancythroughtheir pseudoscientificworkatthesocalledInstituteforSexResearch. In1948,Kinseyreleasedhiscultureshatteringbook,SexualBehaviorinthe HumanMale.Thefirstmajorsexstudyofitskind,theKinseyReportpurported fourdiscoveries,ingraphicdetail.First,thestudyclaimedtohavefoundthat Americanswerefarmoresexuallypromiscuousandsexuallydeviantthanthey saidtheywere.26Second,thestudiessevenpointtheoreticalKinseyScale,in whichanattractiontobothsexesoccupiesamiddlebalancedposition,attempted toestablishsexualdeviancyasanormbydefinition.Third,Kinseysstudyisthe basisfortheenduringmyththattenpercentofAmericanmenengageinsodomy. Fourth,Kinseypurportedtoshowthatadult/childsexisharmless.27 DespiteKinseysunscientificmethod,theradicalnatureofhisclaims attractedattentionandthepresscoveragefollowinghisstudiesreleasecouldnot havebeenmoreexhaustive.Whilepresscoveragerockedthenationsbeliefs aboutitself,Kinsey,thepreviouslyunheardofzoologist,wascatapultedalmost overnightintolimelightandprestige.In1953,Kinseyreleasedacompanion volumeentitled,SexualBehaviorintheHumanFemale. Foroverfortyyears,Kinseysdatawentmoreorlessunchallenged.His theoryofsexasamereoutletreleasedhumanbehaviorfromwhatMarcusehas calledtherepressiveorderofprocreativesexualityandusheredinanewage ofsexualutilitarianism.Allformsofsexualexpressionwereequalizedinthe Kinseymodel.Althoughhisstudiescontinuetoserveasthescientific justificationforthesocalledsexualrevolution,Kinseysfindingswerenot valid,andhismethodsweremultifariouslyflawed. TOBECONTINUED (First,promiscuityofAmericans Second,Kinseyscaleestablishingdeviancyasanorm Third,10percentmyth Fourth,pedophiliaisnaturalmyth Fifth,wrapupwithKinseysotherdeviancyanduntimelydeath)
(Ebert,Michael.PedophiliaStepsintotheDaylight;FocusontheFamilyCitizen.November16, 1992Pg.6f.) 26(Reisman,Dr.JudithA.,andEichel,EdwardW.Kinsey,SexandFraud:TheIndoctrinationofa People.Lafayette,Louisiana,HuntingtonHouse,1990,1992:2) 27(Marotta,Toby.ThePoliticsofHomosexuality;Boston,HoughtonMifflinCompany,1981Pg 36)
25
14
5 TheSexualRevolution
IfKinseywastheresearcherofthesexualrevolution,Iwasthepamphleteer.28 (HughHefner) WithinfiveyearsoftheKinseyReport,HughHefnerlaunchedPlayboy magazineandwithitcamethemodernpornographyindustry.Hefnerhimselfis quotedassayingthatifKinseyweretheresearcherofthesexualrevolutionhe wasthepamphleteer.29TheinitialtargetaudienceofPlayboymagazinewasthe verygenerationofyoungmenwhomKinseyhadbeenspeakingtoonhiscollege lecturecircuit.Moresignificantly,themagazinepopularizedKinseysethicof sexuallicentiousnesswithmuchofthemalepopulationofAmericaatthetime. Playboymagazine,thenandnow,servesasasocialengineeringtool,in thattheexistenceofathrivingpornographyindustrymorallycorruptsthemen whouseit.Itlogicallymakesthemlesslikelytoopposesodomyonmoral groundsandmorelikelytosupportpublicpolicieswhichlegitimizesexual license.Exposuretopornographyatayoungagehasalsobeenshowntobea gatewayintostruggleswithbothsamesexattractionandsodomy. Inasimilarway,theprosodomycauseisadvancedbyasuccessful abortionindustry,whicharoseinresponsetothesexualrevolution.Thechoice tomurderonesownunbornchildmorallycompromisesbothmenandwomen, makingthemunwillingtocriticizethechoicetoengageinotherformsof immoralbehavior.Italsoensuresthatanunwantedchildwillnotbealasting deterrenttothosewhohavechosensexuallicenseoverfamily. Inaddition,theacceptanceofsexualindulgenceasanimportantsocial valueinevitablyinitiatesadownwardmoralspiralinaculture.InAmerican society,thesellingoftheideaofrecreationalsextoyoungmeninthe1950s createdamarketforimmodestandsexuallyadventurousyoungwomen, whichinturnhelpedtolegitimizetheideaoffemalesexualpromiscuity.Inthe
28 29
Reisman,1998:108 Reisman,1998:108
15
1960s,onceimmodestyandpromiscuitybecameacceptableforsomewomen, thepressureincreasedforallwomen,competingfortheattentionsofmen,to adoptthesebehaviors.Thiswasespeciallytrueoftheyoungestmarriageage womenofthatgeneration,whosepersonalmoralsandvalueshadalreadybeen influencedbyadecadeofsexsaturatedpopculture. Thewholesaleentranceofwomanintotheworldofsexuallicensecreated anumberofsocietaldemands.Itcreatedthedemandforasecondwave feministmovementtoliberatewomenfromsocietalexpectationsabout marriageandchildrearing(NationalOrganizationforWomanformedin1966); forcontraceptionondemand(GriswoldVConnecticutin1966);forabortionon demand(RoeVWadein1973);andfornofaultdivorce(statebystate liberalizationofdivorcelawbeganintheearly1970s).Theresultofthese policieshasbeentheachievementofapansexualistgoalasembodiedby Kinseysteachings:theprogressivedenormalizationofmarriageandthesteady normalizationofsexuallicense.Thecensusdataof1998showedafourfold increaseofdivorcefrom1970to1996,whilethepopulationofcohabiting couples,morethandoubled. AmongthesideeffectsproducedbythesedramaticchangesinAmerican policyaretheincreaseofviolentandnonviolentcrime,theproliferationof sexuallytransmitteddiseases,andtheescalationofmentalillnessandchronic substanceabuse.TheIndexofCulturalIndicators,devisedbyformerSecretaryof EducationWilliamJ.Bennett,hastabulatedstatisticalindicatorsofAmericas culturalcollapsefrom1960to1990.Duringthisperiod,Bennettwritesthatthere wasa560percentincreaseinviolentcrime;morethan400percentincreasein illegitimatebirths;aquadruplingofthedivorcerate;atriplingofthepercentage ofchildrenlivinginsingleparenthomes;morethana200percentincreaseinthe teenagesuiciderate;andadropofalmost80pointsinSATscoresThesocial regressionofthelast30yearsisdueinlargeparttotheenfeebledstateofour socialinstitutionsandtheirfailuretocarryoutacriticalandtimehonoredtask: themoraleducationoftheyoung. These,ofcourse,areallresultsonewouldexpecttofindinagenerationof citizensraisedinunstablehomes.Eachandeveryoneofthesesocialproblemsis adirectconsequenceofembracingthepansexualanythinggoesattitudeof sexuallicensepopularizedbyKinsey.Meanwhile,asthepursuitofsexual hedonismbecamethepersonalgoalofaneverlargerpercentageofthe population,theprosodomymovementcontinueditsadvance.
16
6 TheStonewallRiotsandthe PoliticizationoftheGayIdentity
Two,four,six,eightSmashthefamily,smashthestate! (Popularsloganof1970sprosodomyactivists)30 By1969,theinfluenceofagrowingsexualsubcultureinAmericahad spawnedthedemandforsexuallydeviantbusinessesinmajorcities.Gaybars sprangupinLosAngelesandNewYork,hostingabizarremixofstreet queens,drugaddicts,andboyprostitutes.31InNewYorkmenregularly engagedinpublicsexactswithanonymouspartnersinthebacksoftrucks parkedneartheWestVillagepiers32andinpublicrestrooms.Sodomyoccurred sofrequentlyinthebushesofonepublicparkthattheauthoritieswereforcedto cutdownthetreestostopit.33Inresponsetopoliceeffortstodiscouragethis increasinglyoffensivebehavior,participatorsbegantoorganizetodemandthe righttopublicsodomy.Emboldenedbytheirnumbers,theybeganpicketing businessessuchasMacysdepartmentstore,whichhadcrackeddownon sodomyintheirrestrooms.34 OntheeveningofJune27,1969,theprosodomymovementofficially adoptedterrorismasameanstoachievepowerwhenasurlymobofdrag queens,dykes,streetpeople,andbarboys35physicallyattackedpoliceofficers conductingaraidattheStonewallBaronChristopherStreetinNewYork.The StonewallInnwasoneofthebestknownoftheMafiacontrolledbars,36and wasbeingclosedforsellingalcoholwithoutalicense.Itwasalsoahavenfor sexualdeviants.Aspolicebegantotakesomebarpatronsinforquestioning,a mobofmengatheredacrossthestreet.ProsodomyactivistTobyMarottasThe
OosterhuisandSteakley:2 Marotta:71 32ibid.:93 33Adam:85 34ibid.:85 35Marotta:75 36Marotta:75
30 31
17
PoliticsofHomosexualityincludesaneyewitnessreportbyawriterfortheVillage Voice:[A]lmostbysignalthecrowderuptedintocobblestoneandbottle heaving...ThetrashcanIwasstandingonwasnearlyyankedoutfromunderme asakidtriedtograbitforuseinthewindowsmashingmelee.Fromnowhere cameanuprootedparkingmeterusedasabatteringramontheStonewall door.IheardseveralcriesofLetsgetsomegas,buttheblazeofflamewhich soonappearedinthewindowoftheStonewall[wherethepoliceofficerswere trapped]wasstillashock.37 Bymorning,theStonewallbarwasaburnedoutwreckandfour policemenwereinjured.Prosodomyleadersdeclaredtheviolencea success.Interestingly,theanniversaryofthiseventisknowntodayasGayPride Dayandfeaturesparadesandothereventsmostnotablefortheirpublicsexacts andnudity.38Itisironicthattheveryactivistswhoemergedfromthisnew militantenvironmentdevelopedthestrategyofclaimingvictimstatusthrough theuseofsuchsymbolsasthepinktriangle.39 Theriseofmilitancyreflectedtheemergenceofanaggressivebutch factionoftheAmericanprosodomymovement,similartothatwhichoccurredat theturnofthelastcenturyinGermany.FollowingtheStonewallriots,the MattachineActionCommitteeoftheMattachineSocietysNewYorkchapter clamoredfororganizedresistance.40However,controlofthemovementwas takenoutoftheirhandsbyastillmoreradicalgroupofactivists,theGay LiberationFront(GLF),sotitledbecauseithadthesameringasNational LiberationFront,theallianceformedbytheVietCong.41Attheheartofthisnew circleofpowerwasHerbertMarcuse,42alongtimeSocialistwhohadlearnedhis politics(andperhapssodomy)inpreNaziGermany.Prosodomyhistorian BarryD.Adamwrites:HerbertMarcuse,whohadbeenayouthfulparticipant inthe1918Germanrevolutionandhadbeensteepedinthethinkingofthelife reformmovementsoftheWeimarRepublic,caughttheattentionofmanygay liberationists.HisErosandCivilization,publishedintheideologicalwastelandof 1955,bridgedtheprewarandpostwargaymovementswithitsimplicitvisionof homosexualityasaprotestagainsttherepressiveorderofprocreative sexuality.43 InthewakeoftheStonewallriots,GayLiberationFrontssprangup
ibid.:72 ibid.:158 39Adam:86 40Adams:81 41ibid.:91 42ibid.:88 43ibid.:84
37 38
18
acrossthecountry,usingmethodsofintimidationandcoerciontoachieve politicalgains.Immediatelytheytargetedthemedicalcommunity,whose increasingeffectivenessintreatingsamesexattractionthreatenedthe movement.44GayLiberationFronts,writesAdam,stormedSanFrancisco,Los AngelesandChicagoconventionsofpsychiatry,medicineandbehavior modification,shoutingdownspeakersandterrorizingaudiencemembers.45As extremeasithaditselfbecome,theMattachineSocietypredictedthattheGay LiberationFrontsviolenttacticswouldfailtoinspirethemovement,46butthey werewrong.ThoughtheGLFcollapsedin1972,inpartbecauseofaconflict betweendragqueensandmachos[FemsandButches],theircoercive philosophyprevailed.47
Rueda:101ff Adam:87f 46Marotta:136 47Adam:90
44 45
19
7 TheIntimidationoftheAmerican PsychiatricAssociation
ItwasneveramedicaldecisionandthatswhyIthinktheactioncameso fastItwasapoliticalmove.Thatshowfarwevecomeintenyears.Nowweeven havetheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationrunningscared. (BarbaraGittings,ProSodomyActivist) PriortoDecember14,1973theAmericanPsychiatricAssociation(APA) consideredsamesexattractionsdisordered.Thedisorderwaslistedinthe DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersII(DSMII)underthelabel, Homosexuality.Psychiatrysauthoritativevoiceinfluencedpublicopinion, whichatthetimewasnegativetowardbothsodomyandthetypesofpeople whoengagedinsuchacts.Althoughpublicsexualactivityinparksandpublic restroomscontributedtosocietiesnegativeviews,scientificopinionwas crucialinthepublicattitude. InanefforttoremoveHomosexualityfromtheDSMprosodomy activistsbeganaprogramofintimidationaimedattheAmericanPsychiatric Associationcirca1970.ActivistFranklinKamenystatesthemovementsobjective clearly,Ifeelthattheentirehomophilemovementisgoingtostandorfall uponthequestionofwhetherornothomosexualityisasickness,anduponour takingafirmstandonit48FranklinKamenyledtheWashingtonD.C.chapter oftheMattachineSocietyduringthe1960s.InthetraditionofMagnus HirschfieldandAlfredKinsey,Kamenyviewedonesattractiontoaspecific genderasfluid,andviewedactsofsodomyasmorallyequivalenttonatural sexualactswithintheboundsofmarriage.LedbyradicalslikeFranklinKameny, prosodomyactivistsattackedpsychiatristsacrossAmerica,asNewsweek describes: Butevenmorethanthegovernment,itisthepsychiatristswhohave experiencedthefullrageofthehomosexualactivists.Overthepasttwoyears, gayliborganizationshaverepeatedlydisruptedmedicalmeetings,andthree monthsagointhemovementsmostaggressivedemonstrationsofaragroup
48
TheGayCrusaders,byKayTobinandRandyWicker,p.98
20
of30militantsbrokeintoameetingoftheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationin Washington,wheretheyturnedthestaidproceedingsintonearchaosfortwenty minutes.Weareheretodenounceyourauthoritytocallussickormentally disordered,shoutedthegroupsleader,Dr.FranklinKameny,whilethe2,000 shockedpsychiatristslookedonindisbelief.Forus,ashomosexuals,your professionistheenemyincarnate.Wedemandthatpsychiatriststreatusas humanbeings,notaspatientstobecured!49 Ironically,attheverymomentFranklinKamenywasclaimingthat sodomywashealthy,safe,andnaturaladeadlyviruswassilentlypassing throughcommunitiesofmenalloverthenation.Onlyadecadelater,thousands ofmenwouldbedeadordyingofAIDS. OnJune7,1971,FranklinKamenywrotealettertothePsychiatricNews threateningtheAPAwithnotonlymore,butworse,disruptions.Inthisletterhe states,Ourpresencetherewasonlythebeginningofanincreasinglyintensive campaignbyhomosexualstochangetheapproachofpsychiatrytoward homosexualityor,failingthat,todiscreditpsychiatry.50 KayTobinLahausen,coauthorofTheGayCrusaders,describesavarietyof activism.WedidallsortsofprotestsWhentheU.S.AmbassadortotheUnited Nationscameoutofsomemeetingandgotinhisbigblacklimousine,I remembergoingcrazy,rockingandbeatingonthelimousineHehadnever beenbesiegedbyabunchofhomosexualsbefore.Buthehadsaidsomethingthat gotusgoing.51 Lahausenslover,BarbaraGittingswasawellknownactivistduringthis timeaswell.AlthoughGittingswasnotalibrarian,shewasthefirstheadofthe AmericanLibraryAssociationsGayTaskForce.Herobjectivewastobring booksadvocatingsodomytotheattentionoflibrarians,inhopesofhavingthem includedintheirlibraries.AtoneAmericanLibraryAssociationmeetingGittings setupasamesexkissingboothtoattractattentiontohercause.Gittingstells aboutheractivismagainsttheAPA: BesidestheALA,Iwasalsoveryinvolved,alongwithmanyother people,ineffortstogettheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationtodropitslisting ofhomosexualityasamentalillness.Psychiatristswereoneofthethreemajor groupsthathadtheirhandsonus.Theyhadakindofcontroloverourfate,in theeyesofthepublic,foralongtime.Religionandlawweretheothertwo groupsthathadtheirhandsonus.So,besidesbeingsick,weweresinfuland
Newsweek,82371,p.47 TheGayCrusaders,p.130131 51MakingHistory:TheStruggleforGayandLesbianEqualRights,19451990:anOralHistorybyEric Marcusp.216217(AuthorMarcushasworkedasanassociateproducerforCBSThisMorning andGoodMorningAmerica.)
49 50
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criminal.Butthesicknesslabelinfectedeverythingthatwesaidandmadeit difficultforustogainanycredibilityforanythingwesaidourselves.The sicknessissuewasparamount.52 GittingstookplaceindisruptivezapattacksontheAPA.Shestates,I amnotopposedtozaptactics.Infact,Ispearheadedazapatapsychiatrists meetingandImreadytodoitagain.53Gittingsrecounts,The1970convention inSanFranciscowasdisruptedbyagroupoffeministsandgaymenwhowere enragedbywhatthepsychiatristsweresayingaboutthemandnewspapersall aroundthecountrycarriedthestory.54 TheGayMilitants,abookaboutthattimetellsthestory,OnMay14, 1970psychiatristsbecamethehunted.Aninvasionbythecoalitionofgayand womansliberationistsinterruptedthenationalconventionoftheAmerican PsychiatricAssociationinSanFranciscotoprotestthereadingofapaperbyan Australianpsychiatristonthesubjectofaversiontherapy,asystemoftreatment whichattemptstochangegayorientationbykeyingunpleasantsensations(such aselectricshocks)tohomosexualstimuli.Bythetimethemeetingwasover,the feministsandtheirgaycohortswereinchargeandthedoctorswereheckling fromtheaudience.55 Prosodomyactiviststookoverthepodiumandmicrophones.Then, KonstantinBerlandt,ofBerkeleyGLF,paradedthroughthehallinabrightred dress.Paperairplanessaileddownfromthebalcony.Withtwopapersstill unread,thechairmanannouncedadjournment.Asthemeetingadjourned severalargumentsbrokeoutbetweenthepsychiatristswhowereangryaboutthe disruptionoftheactivists.OneactivistshoutedtoaPsychiatrist,Dontshake yourfu**ingfingeratme,towhichthepsychiatristreplied,Illshakewhatever Iplease.56Asanotherargumentarose,psychiatristDr.IrvingBieberstatedthat hebelievedpersonsexperiencingsamesexattractionswerethesubjectsof misplacedsexualadjustment,towhichaprosodomyactivistshriekedand calledhimamotherfu**er.57Severalmonthslater,TheAdvocatereportedon otherdisruptions:PSYCHOLOGISTSGETGAYLIBTHERAPY. OnJune23,1970,activistsdisruptedanothermeetingoftheAmerican PsychiatricAssociation.ThistimeinChicago,theyrepeatedlyshouteddownthe
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mainspeakersdiscourse.58Again,inOctober,duringameetingattheUniversity ofSouthernCalifornia,prosodomyactivistsshouteddownaspeakerandtook overthestageandmicrophone.59 ProsodomyactivistscontinuedtopressuretheAPAthrough1973.Apro sodomymagazine,TheAdvocate,talksofwhathappenedin1973referringto thewidespreadprotestsbythegayandlesbiancommunitythatledtotheAPAs droppinghomosexualityfromtheDSM.60 Addthattheresolutionstillcalledthembadandthenewernegotiated verbiage,alsoaddtheotherpsychologistnamesthatwereelectedtotheboard andhowmanypersonsannuallyserveontheboard. Whileactivistswereterrorizingpsychiatrists,theAPAsBoardof Trusteeswasbeingstackedwithmemberssympathetictotheprosodomycause. ProsodomypsychiatristandformerpresidentoftheAmericanPsychiatric AssociationAlfredM.Freedmanrecounts,IntheAPAelectionsof1972and 1973concernoversocialissuesbroughtinanumberofindividualsasmembers oftheBoardofTrusteeswhowerecommittedtochange,includingremovalof homosexualitypersefromtheofficialAPAnomenclature.61 Dr.RobertL.SpitzerM.D.,amemberoftheAPATaskForceon NomenclatureandStatisticswasoneofthepsychiatristscommittedtochange. Duringthistime,Dr.Spitzerbegantoorganizemeetingsandsymposiumsto discussthepossibleremovalofHomosexualityfromtheDSM.One symposium,whichtookplaceattheAPAannualmeetinginHawaii,included scoresofprosodomypoliticalactivists.Withevidentbiasesgoingintothe symposium,Dr.Spitzerconcludeduponitsendthatactionwasnecessaryforthe removalofHomosexualityfromtheDSM. SpitzerthenbroughttheissuetotheattentionofDr.HenryBrill,whowas thechairoftheTaskForceonNomenclatureandStatisticsfortheAmerican PsychologicalAssociation.Dr.BrillthenassignedDr.Spitzertopreparea scientificallysoundandpersuasivememoandresolution,tobepresentedto theAPAsCouncilonResearchandDevelopment,ReferenceCommittee,andthe AssemblyBoardofTrustees.62 Afterbeinggiventheassignment,Dr.Spitzerquicklydrafted,presented, andobtainedapprovalforhisthreepagesamesexattractionaffirmingresolution bytheAPAsCouncilonResearchandDevelopmentandReferenceCommittee.
Ibid.,275 Ibid.,pp.276280 60TheAdvocate,122893,p.40 61AlfredM.FreedmanM.D.PsychiatricNews,September2001,RecallingAPAsHistoricStep, http://www.psych.org/pnews/000901/recalling.html 62ibid
58 59
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InordertosecureunanimouspassageamongtheBoardofTrusteeshowever, certaincompromiseshadtobemade.AlthoughSpitzersfirstdraft,whichstates that,homosexualityisanormalvariantofhumansexualitywasrejected,his seconddraft,whichstates,xxxxwaseventuallyadopted.Thisdraft,itshould benoted,didnotaffirmsamesexattraction,butrather.. AnarticleappearinginPsychiatricNewsaboutthistimerecallsthatpro sodomyactivistswerebeginningtospeakofunyieldingpsychiatristsaswar criminals,63withobviousimplications.Possiblyinfearfortheirsafety,and certainlyweariedbyconstantharassment,onDecember15,1973,theBoardof TrusteesoftheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationcapitulatedtothedemandsof theradicalsandadoptedSpitzersresolutionbyvotingtodowngrade HomosexualityasanillnesstothemildercategoryofSexualOrientation Disturbance. Addwhatdisordermeant,howtheedefinitionchanged,andwhichis moreaccurateandwhy.Also,debunkthedefinitionthatislessaccurateand notewhyallofsciencesuffered. ThefacttheBoardwasinfluencedandintimidatedisnosecret.Infact, prosodomyjournalistAndrewSullivanwrotethatinDecemberof1973the APA,underintensepoliticalpressureremovedhomosexualityfromits officiallistofpsychiatricdisorders64ActivistMarkThompsonwrites,Just beforethefirstoftheyear,theAmericanPsychiatricAssociationsBoardof Trusteesdeclaredwewerenolongersick.65 AfterthevotebytheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationsBoardof Trustees,manymembersoftheAPAwereoutragedattheBoardforcavingin, andchangingpsychiatrysolelyasaresultofpoliticalpressure.Inresponsetothe Boardsdecisionmanypsychiatrists,ledbyDr.CharlesSocaridesfiledapetition forareferendumtoreversetheactionoftheBoard.Theycalledforafullvoteby theAPAs17,905members.66OnApril9,1974,theresultsofthevotewere announced.Only10,555ofthe17,905APAmembersvotedintheelection.The resultswereasfollows, TotalAPAmemberseligibletovote:17,905 NumberofAPAmembersthatactuallyvoted:10,555 NumberofmembersthatAbstained:367 NumberofNovotesvotestokeephomosexualityintheDSMasa mentaldisorder:3,810
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NumberofYesvotesvotestoremovehomosexualityfromtheDSM asamentaldisorder:5,854 ItshouldbenotedthatthenumberofYesvotes,5,854,madeuponly 32.7percentofthetotalmembershipoftheAPA.Onlyslightlylessthanone thirdoftheAPAsmembershipapprovedthechange.Itshouldbefurthernoted thatthevotewaspartiallycontrolledbytheNationalGayandLesbianTask Force(NGTLF).TheNGTLFwasabletoobtainAPAmemberaddressesand withoutidentifyingitselfasanorganizationsendoutletterstoallmembers urgingthemtovotetoremovehomosexualityfromtheDSM.BruceVoeller, theheadoftheNGTLFadmits,Ourcostlyletterhasperhapsmadethe difference.67 Theprosodomyactivistswonthevoteandthenewofficialdefinitionof Homosexualityasadisorderwasdowngradedtoincludeonlythosewhowere unhappywiththeirsexualorientation.68Butwasthisvoteascientificdecision, orwasitapoliticalone?ProsodomyhistorianEnriqueRuedawrites,Thisvote wasnottheresultofscientificanalysisafteryearsofpainstakingresearch. Neitherwasitapurelyobjectivechoicefollowingtheaccumulationof incontrovertibledata.Theveryfactthatthevotewastakenrevealsthenatureof theprocessinvolved,sincetheexistenceofanorthodoxyinitself,contradictsthe essenceofscience.69Indeed,whenactivistspubliclyclaimthatthevotewasa scientificdecisiontheyhidethreeyearsofdeceitandintimidation.Inpro sodomypublicationshowever,activistsareremarkablycandidaboutthereality ofthevote. ProsodomyactivistsKayLahusenandBarbaraGittingsknowwhat reallyhappenedtotheAPA.InthebookMakingHistorytheyarequiteopen aboutthereality. Kay:Thiswasalwaysmoreofapoliticaldecisionthanamedical decision. Barbara:ItneverwasamedicaldecisionandthatswhyIthinkthe actioncamesofast.Afterall,itwasonlythreeyearsfromthetimethatfeminists andgaysfirstzappedtheAPAatabehaviortherapysessiontothetimethatthe BoardofTrusteesvotedin1973toapproveremovinghomosexualityfromthelist ofmentaldisorders.Itwasapoliticalmove.70 TheAPAwasthoroughlyintimidated.In1974,aftertheAPAsvote, GittingswasinterviewedbyprosodomymovementhistorianJonathanNed
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Katz.Gittingsbrags,Thatshowfarwevecomeintenyears.Nowweeven havetheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationrunningscared.71 Anytimeascientificorganizationendorsessodomy,rememberGittings words:Theyarerunningscared.Prosodomyactivistshavelearnedthat intimidationandstrategicallianceswork,andtheyareneverhesitantabout usingintimidationandpsychologicalmanipulationtoreachthegoalsoftheir radicalagenda. Adoptingterrorismasameans,prosodomyactivistssettheirvicious sightsonDr.DavidReuben,oneofthebestknownpsychologistsintheareaof humansexualityin1974.UnbeknownsttoDr.Reuben,prosodomyactivists werelyinginwaitoutsideoneofhislecturesandhisphysicalsafetywasatrisk. ProsodomyauthorLeighRutledgedescribestheattackinhisbookTheGay Decades,June16,AfistfightbrokeoutataPhiladelphiaplayhousewhenten gayactivistsinterruptedalecturebyDr.DavidRuebenanddenouncedhimasa criminalforhisviewsonmalehomosexuality.Onepolicemanandaprotestor areinjuredinthemelee.72Onthatsamepage,thebooktellsusthat,The CentersforDiseaseControlestimatethatgayorbisexualmenaccountforas muchasonethirdofthesyphiliscasesintheU.S. Apparently,theAmericanPsychologicalAssociationalsogotthemessage ofintimidationwhentheycavedintothedemandsofprosodomyactivistsin 1975.Inthebook,TheLongRoadtoFreedomtheauthorwrites,JanuaryThe AmericanPsychologicalAssociationandAmericanAssociationforthe AdvancementofScienceechoedtheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationin deeminghomosexualitynotanillness.73TheAmericanAssociationforthe AdvancementofScience(AAAS)publishesthescientificjournalScience, intimidationbyprosodomyactivistswasoverforthem.Underpressurefrom gayscientificgroups,Sciencemagazinebannedantigaybiasinitsstaffhiring andadvertisement.74 CouldtheAAAShavebeenthinkingaboutpressurefromprosodomy groupswhentheypublishedthepoorlydonestudiesbyLeVay(gaybrains) andHamer(gaygene)?TwoscientistswhoprotestedtheLeVaystudyraise seriousquestionsaboutAAAS,Science,andprosodomyactivists.Thescientists statethat,TheappearanceofLeVayspaperhighlightsaseriousissueinScience publicpolicy.Shouldsuchastudy,basedonaquestionabledesign,withsubjects drawnfromasmall,highlyselectedandnonrepresentativesample,receivethe
GayAmericanHistory,byJonathanNedKatz,1992,p.427.ThisinterviewwastapedJuly19,1974 TheGayDecades,byamanthatengagesinsamegendersexandwriter,LeighW.Rutledge,1992, p.69 73TheLongRoadtoFreedom,pp.115 74TheLongRoadtoFreedom,pp.214
71 72
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kindofinternationalattentionandcredibilitythatpublicationinajournalwith thestatureofSciencelends?75 IfDr.LeVaywasnotabletodrawapropersampleandtofulfillother basicrequirementsforascientificstudy,whydidheconductthestudyatall?If thestudywasnotdoneforscientificreasonsitmusthavebeendoneforpolitical reasons.Indeed,LeVaysstudywaspartofamassivepublicrelationscampaign designedtoconvincethepublictobelievethatindividualsareborngay.The mastheadofSciencemusthavebeenintimidatedtoriskthepublicationsown legitimacybypublishingsuchanunscientificwork.Whenunethicalpolitical movementsdominatescience,pushingscienceinunscientificdirections,science suffersandleadssocietyastray. Onelessondrawnfromthefactsoutlinedinthischapterisunmistakable: everytimeascientificgrouprepeatsaprosodomytalkingpoint,youmay,with justifiableskepticism,suspectthatthesegroupsareactingoutofintimidation. Anotherunmistakablelessonisthatprosodomyactivistsaresodesperateto covertheirdeeplydysfunctionalconditionthattheywillstopatnothingtohide thefactsabouttheirconditionfromthepublic.Awardwinningwriterandpro sodomyactivistRandyShiltsdescribesthedenialthatexistsamongmanymen whoengageinsodomy,abouttherealityoftheirirresponsibleandunhealthy lifestylescausingAIDStobeepidemic,whenhewrites,thedesperationof denial:howwhensomethingissohorribleyoudontwanttobelieveit,youwant itoutofyourmindandinsistitisnttrue,andhowyouhatethepersonwhosays itis.76 Desperatedenial;thisseemstobewhatdrivestheprosodomy movementsdeceit,psychologicalmanipulation,andintimidationofscientific groupsandotherapposingmembersofsociety.
75
Science,11191,p.630 AndtheBandPlayedOn,1988,p.182
76
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8 TheBornGayHoax
ItistimetolearnfromMadisonAvenueandtorolloutthebigguns....Wearetalking aboutpropaganda. (Activists,MarshallKirkandHunterMadsen) Theborngayhoaxwasinventedin1985byMarshallKirkandDr. HunterMadsen.MarshallKirkgraduatedmagnacumlaudefromHarvard Universityin1980majoringinpsychologyandwentontobecomeawriterand researcherinneuropsychiatry.Dr.HunterMadsenearnedaPhDinpoliticsfrom HarvardUniversityin1985,thenwentontobecomeanexpertonpublic persuasiontactics,socialmarketing,andhasdesignedcommercialmarketingon MadisonAvenue.Hehasalsoservedasaconsultanttoprosodomymedia campaignsacrossAmerica. In1985,MarshallKirkandHunterMadsencoauthoredanarticleentitled TheGayAgendainaprosodomymagazinecalledChristopherStreet.Inshort,the articleemphasizedthestrategicimportanceofshiftingthecentralissueinthe debateoverhomosexualityawayfromsodomyandtowardasexualpseudo identitycalledgay.ThegoalofTheGayAgendawastoforceopponentsof sodomyintoapositionwheretheywouldbeseenasattackingthecivilrightsof socalledgaycitizens,ratherthanopposingaspecificantisocialbehavior.The GayAgendaalsobrieflyoutlinedthestrategythatwouldeventuallybeusedto convincethepublicthatindividualsareborngay. Initially,therewasnoenthusiasmforTheGayAgendawithinthepro sodomymovement.Infact,manyactivistsconsideredtheproposedstrategy degradingbecausetheyviewedrightsrelatedtosexualityasanalogoustothe constitutionalrightstoassociation,expression,orreligion.77Initially,therewere strongreservationsinagainstadoptingthestrategy.However,theseinitial reservationswouldnotlastforlong. In1986theprosodomymovementlostBowersv.Hardwick;theUnited StatesSupremeCourtcasewhichupheldtherightsofindividualstatesto criminalizesodomy.Thelosswasdevastating.Desperate,angry,andgalvanized
77
TheAdvocate,32492p.62quotation(Pat)mine
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prosodomyactivistslearnedthatiftheycouldmakeacompellingcasethatthey wereborngay,theycouldbecomeeligibleforMinorityStatusasaSuspect Classunderthe1964CivilRightsAct.IfMinorityStatusweregranted,itwould forcethecourtstooverturnBowersv.Hardwick,thuslegalizingsodomy.Itshould benotedhowever,thattheCivilRightsActrecognizesMinorityStatusonlyfor thosegroupswho: 1)Havesufferedalonghistoryofdiscrimination 2)Arepowerlesstohelpthemselvesasacommunity 3)Arebornthatway ThelegalizationofsodomybywayofMinorityStatusisthesecretto understandingwhyprosodomyactivistsadoptedthestrategyoutlinedinThe GayAgendainthelate80sandbegantopromotetheUlrichsiantypeclaimthat peopleareborngay. Wastinglittletime,MarshalKirkandHunterMadsen(Madsenwriting underthepseudonymErastesPill)publishedafollowuptoTheGayAgenda entitledTheOverhaulingofStraightAmerica.Thisarticle,whichappearedinthe prosodomypublicationGuideinNovemberof1987,outlinedapointbypoint strategythatcouldbeusedtoconvincestraightAmericathatmenandwomen whodevelopsamesexattractionsareborngay. Inthefollowingyear,1988,aWarConferenceof175leadingpro sodomyactivists,representingorganizationsfromeverypartoftheUnitedStates convenedinWarrenton,Virginia.Thepurposeoftheconferenceaccordingto KirkandMadsenwastoestablishanofficialagendaforthenewlyconceived gaymovement.AtthisWarConferenceprosodomyactivistsadoptedthe identitypoliticstrategyoutlinedTheGayAgendaandTheOverhaulingofStraight America.Theborngayhoaxwasborn. Subsequently,in1989,MarshalKirkandHunterMadsenexpandedtheir articleTheOverhaulingofStraightAmericaintoabookentitledAftertheBall:How AmericaWillConquerItsFearandHatredoftheGaysinthe90s.Inthisdeliberately deceitfulagendaforAmericaKirkandMadsenwritethattheyintendtoget toughonstraights.Theyfurtherwrite,itistimetolearnfromMadison Avenueandtorolloutthebigguns....Wearetalkingaboutpropaganda.Kirkand Madsenexplainedthecentraltenantoftheirstrategy:Thepublicshouldbe persuadedthatgaysarevictimsofcircumstance,thattheynomorechosetheir sexualorientationthantheydid,say,theirheight,skincolor,talents,or limitations.(Wearguethat,forallpracticalpurposes,gaysshouldbeconsidered tohavebeenborngayeventhoughsexualorientation,formosthumans,seemstobe theproductofacomplexinteractionbetweeninnatepredispositionsandenvironmental 29
factorsduringchildhoodandearlyadolescence.)78 Here,theauthorsadmitthathumansexualityseemstobetheproductof acomplexinteractionbetweeninnatepredispositionsandenvironmental factors,yettheyurgereaderstoabandonthetruthforpracticalpurposes,i.e. furtheringTheGayAgenda.Thepropagandistscouldnothavebeenclearer abouttheirplantodeceiveAmericans.TheGayAgenda,itscumulativepost luminaries,andeffortstoemploythetacticsoutlinedinthesedocumentsare whatIrefertoasTheBornGayHoax.ThefollowingexcerptsfromtheAfterthe BallwillexemplifythemanipulativetacticsMarshallKirkandHunterMadsen enticedprosodomyactivistsemploy. ThefirstorderofbusinessisdesensitizationoftheAmericanpublic concerninggaysTodesensitizethepublicistohelpitviewhomosexualitywith indifferenceinsteadofwithkeenemotion.Ideallywewouldhavethestraight registerdifferencesinsexualpreferencethewaytheyregisterdifferenttastesfor icecream79 Themassesshouldnotbeshockedandrepelledbyprematureexposure tohomosexualbehavioritselftheimageryofsexshouldbedownplayed80 gaysmustbecastasvictimsinneedofprotectionsothatstraightswill beinclinedbyreflextoassumetheroleofprotector...81 makeuseofsymbolswhichreducethemainstreamssenseofthreat, whichloweritsguard82 replacethemainstreamsselfrighteousprideaboutitshomophobia withshameandguilt83 TalkaboutgaysandgaynessasloudlyandasoftenaspossibleThe principalbehindthisadviceissimple:almostallbehaviorbeginstolooknormalif youareexposedtoenoughofitatclosequartersandamongyour
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acquaintances.84 Unfortunately,thissociallearningprinciplehasprovenitselftimeand timeagainthroughouthistory,asvariousinhumaneandoutrageousbehaviors havebecomecommonplaceandordinary.Theauthorscontinue. Constanttalkbuildstheimpressionthatpublicopinionisatleastdivided onthesubject85 MadsenandPill(Kirk)explaintheirschemeingreaterdepthwhenthey write: Wherewetalkisimportant.Thevisualmedia,filmandtelevision,are plainlythemostpowerfulimagemakersinWesterncivilization.Theaverage AmericanhouseholdwatchesoversevenhoursofTVdaily.Thosehoursopenup agatewayintotheprivateworldofstraights,throughwhichaTrojanhorse mightbepassed.Asfarasdesensitizationisconcerned,themediumisthe messageofnormalcy.Sofar,gayHollywoodhasprovidedourbestcovert weaponinthebattletodesensitizethemainstream.86 Notsomanyyearsago,allofthesestatementswouldhavebeen unbelievablyoffensivetomostAmericans,eveniftheycontainednoreferenceto homosexuality,preciselybecausetheyalladvocatecoercivetamperingwith peoplesmostprivatedomain,theirthoughts,opinions,andbeliefs,Kirkand MadsencallittransformingthesocialvaluesofstraightAmerica87Letslook atthemechanicsoftheirstrategyfortransformingsocietyintowhattheyfeel wouldbeamoreacceptableform.Theauthorscontinue. Wouldadesensitizingcampaignofopenandsustainedtalkaboutgay issuesreacheveryrabidopponentofhomosexuality?Ofcoursenot.Whilepublic opinionisoneprimarysourceofmainstreamvalues,religiousauthorityisthe other.Whenconservativechurchescondemngays,thereareonlytwothingswe candotoconfoundthehomophobiaoftruebelievers.First,wecanusetalkto muddythemoralwaters.Thismeanspublicizingsupportforgaysbymore moderatechurches,raisingtheologicalobjectionsofourownaboutconservative
31
interpretationsofbiblicalteachings,andexposinghatredandinconsistency. Second,wecanunderminethemoralauthorityofhomophobicchurchesby portrayingthemasantiquatedbackwaters,badlyoutofstepwiththetimesand withthelatestfindingsofpsychology.Againstthemightypullofinstitutional ReligiononemustsetthemightierdrawofScience&PublicOpinion(theshield andswordofthataccursedsecularhumanism).Suchanunholyalliancehas workedwellagainstchurchesbefore,onsuchtopicsasdivorceandabortion. Withenoughopentalkabouttheprevalenceandacceptabilityofhomosexuality, thatalliancecanworkagainhere.88 thecampaignshouldpaintgaysassuperiorpillarsofsociety.Yes,yes,we knowthistrickissoolditcreaks89 itwillbetimetogettoughwithremainingopponents.Tobeblunt,theymust bevilified.90 weintendtomakeantigaystolooksonastythataverageAmericanswill wanttodissociatethemselvesfromsuchtypes91 Eachsignwilltappatrioticsentiment;eachmessagewilldrillaseemingly agreeablepositionintomainstreamheads92 Thepublicshouldbeshownimagesofrantinghomophobeswhosesecondary traitsandbeliefsdisgustmiddleAmericatheKuKluxKlandemandingthat gaysbeburnedaliveorcastrated;bigotedsouthern[sic]ministersdroolingwith hystericalhatredtoadegreethatlooksbothcomicalandderanged;menacing punks,thugsandconvictsNaziconcentrationcamps93 Thisbehaviormodificationmentality,combinedwiththeisolationof straightsandothersasgroupsorclasseswhoassumethestatusof dehumanizedtargetsofonesortoranothercontinues,undisturbedinintensity. Theseimages(ofanyoneopposedtohomosexualbehavior)shouldbe combinedwiththoseoftheirgayvictimsbyamethodpropagandistscallthe
Ibid.p.9 Ibid.p.9 90ibid.p.10 91ibid.p.10 92ibidp.11 93ibid.p.10
88 89
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brackettechnique.Forexample,forafewsecondsanunctuousbeadyeyed Southernpreacherisseenpoundingthepulpitinrageaboutthosesick, abominablecreatures.Whilehistiradecontinuesoverthesoundtrack,the pictureswitchestopatheticphotosofgayswholookdecent,harmless,and likable;andthenwecutbacktothepoisonousfaceofthepreacher,andsoforth. Thecontrastspeaksforitself.Theeffectisdevastating.94 AgroupcalledParentsandFriendsofLesbiansandGays(PFLAG) actuallyusedthistechniqueinanadvertisingcampaigninthefallof1995against PatRobertson,JesseHelms,andJerryFalwell.AsreportedintheSanFrancisco Examiner,Sunday,November12,1995anewtelevisionadcampaign [portraysscenesof]ateenagegirlcontemplatingsuicidewithahandgun,[and]a youngmanbeingbeatenbyagangashisattackersshoutslursinterspersed withactualclipsoftheRev.PatRobertsonandotherconservativesdeploring homosexuality.Moststationsturneddowntheads,buttheyraninTulsa,and WashingtonD.C.Aprintversionofthead(muchlessemotionallyeffective)was runinUSAToday,November21,1995. ItisabsolutelyappallingtohearthetacticspromotedbyMarshallKirk (MCkusick)andHunterMadsen.Prosodomyactivistswhohaveemployed thesetechniqueshavenothingtobeproudof.Thesesoidisantpropagandistic tacticsandeventheverbiageinwhichtheyarecouchedrepresentatwistedand fascist,deceitfulanddegradingapproachtothewinningofmainstream Americanmind. Inspecializedpressprosodomyactivistsspeakcandidlyaboutthe movementspurelypracticalpurposesforpromotingtheideathepeopleare borngay.Indoingso,theyadmitthatpublicborngayrhetoricisfabricated propaganda,contrivedandcarriedoutforspecificpoliticalends;mainly,the overturningofBowersandthenormalizationofsodomy. Dr.LillianFaderman,whohaswontheMonette/HorwitzAwardfromthe prosodomyactivistgroupLambdaLiteraryFoundation,states:Andwe continuetodemandRights,ignoringthefactthathumansexualityisfluidand flexible,actingasthoughweareallstuckinourcategoryforever.Shefurther states,Thenarrowcategoriesofidentitypoliticsareobviouslydeceptive.It becomesobviouslaterinthearticlefromwhichtheabovequotesarepulledthat Dr.Fadermanseesapoliticalthreatfromthetruth,fromthefluidityofhuman sexuality.ImustconfessthatIambothelatedandterrifiedbythepossibilities ofabisexualmoment.ImelatedbecauseItrulybelievethatbisexualityisthe naturalhumancondition.ButImmuchlesshappywhenIthinkofthe
94
ibid.p.1314
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possibilityofhugenumbersofhomosexuals(twothirdsofwomenwhoidentify aslesbianforexample)runningofftoexploretheheterosexualsideoftheir bisexualpotentialand,asaresult,decimatingourpoliticalranks.Dr.Faderman alsowritesthat,Theconceptofgayandlesbianidentitymaybenothingbuta socialconstruct,butithasbeencrucial,enablingustobecomeapolitical movementanddemandtherightsthataredotousasaminority.Whatbecomes ofourpoliticalmovementifweopenlyacknowledgethatsexualityisflexibleand fluid,thatgayandlesbiandoesnotsignifyapeoplebutratherasometime behavior?95 Dr.JohnDeCeccoisapsychologist,DirectoroftheCenterforResearchand EducationinSexualityatSanFranciscoStateUniversity,andEditorofThe JournalofHomosexuality.Dr.DeCeccocallshimselfgaybutinsiststhatsuch attractionsareachangeablepreferencenotanorientation.Heexplainsinhis bookentitled,IfYouSeduceAStraightPersonYouCanMakeThemGay,that,the wholeborngayandimmutablecharacteristicideaisjustgayandlesbian politicsandisaimedatachievinggayrights.96 Dr.VeraWhismanwritesinherbook,QueerbyChoice:Lesbians,GayMen, andthePoliticsofIdentity,Thepoliticaldangersofachoicediscoursegobeyond thesimple(ifcontroversial)notionthatsomepeoplegenuinelychoosetheir homosexuality.Indeed,myconclusionsquestionsomeofthefundamentalbasis uponwhichthegayandlesbianrightsmovementhasbeenbuilt.Ifwecannot makepoliticalclaimsbasedonanessentialandsharednature,arewenotleft onceagainasindividualdeviants?Withoutanessentialist[borngay]foundation, dowehaveaviablepolitics?97 LesbianwriterJennieRubyadmits,IdontthinklesbiansarebornI thinktheyaremadeThegayrightsmovementhas(formanygood,practical reasons)adoptedlargelyanidentitypolitics.98 JanClausen,lesbianauthorofthebookApplesandOrangeswrites,Whats gottostopistheriggingofhistorytomaketheeither/orlookpermanentand universal.Iunderstandwhythisargumentmaysounderotictooutsidersfor whomthepublicassertionofacoherent,unchanginglesbianorgayidentityhas provedanindispensabletacticinthebattleagainsthomophobicpersecution. Later,ClausenquotesthepopularlesbianpoetAudreLorde,whoadmitsthelies associatedwiththeborngayhoaxaswell,whenshewrites,Idonotbelieve
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ourwantshavemadeallourliesholy.99 LesbiansLyneHarneandElaineMillerexplaintheirfeelingsregarding theborngayhoax:Theresnothingnaturalinlesbianism,itsapositive choice,andapoliticalone.100Yetanotheradmissionappearedinthe homosexualmagazineGirlfriends;itstates,Nowonderlesbiansaresonervous. Whatmakesthelesbianmovementstrongistheformationofacollective identity,unifiedbehindsexualorientationasacategory.Ifbisexualityundoes that,itkicksthelesbianmovementwhereitreallyhurts:intheheartandsoulof identitypolitics.101 TheNationalCenterforLesbianRights(NCLR)isoneofthehomosexual activistorganizationsthatpressuretheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationtoreject homosexualreparativetherapy.TheNCLRclaimsthatthegayidentityis innateandunchangeable.JoAnneLoulanisoneofthepsychotherapistswho servedontheboardofdirectorsforthisorganization.Loulanmadehypocritical headlinesontheFebruary18,1997editionofthehomosexualmagazineThe Advocatebecauseshereportedlychangedherownsexualorientationwhenshe, fellinlovewithaman? Further,KateKendall,theDirectoroftheNCLR,whointhespiritof Ulrichs,Kirk,andMadsenarguedthatthesocalledgaypersonwasendowed withafixed,innate,andunchangeable,sexualorientationandcommandedthe AmericanPsychiatricAssociationtohaltallformsofreparativetherapyforall people,includingthosedesperatelylookingforhelp,actuallywroteanarticlefor FrontiersMagazine,arguingthatsexualorientationisfluid,notfixed.102 KateKendallandJoanneLoulanstoodbeforetheAmericanPsychiatric Associationwithstraightfacesdeclaringreparativetherapytobethedangerous equivalentofpouringbleachonablackpersonsskintomakethemwhite.Then, oneoftheseselfproclaimedgayswentoutandchangedherownsocalled sexualorientationbyfallinginlovewithamanandtheothertookthetimeto writeanarticleforaninsidersmagazinearguingthatsexualityischangeable.Isit possible,forustocontinuetotrusttheseactivistswhensaythattheyareborngay? Thosewhohavebeentrickedbythepropagandahavelittleforwhichto beashamed.Thereisnoshameinbelievingalieuntilyoulearnthetruth.The truthisthatbeginningin1985,TheGayAgendawassoldtotheAmericanpublic byprosodomypropagandists.Thecarefullycalculatedliesofthese propagandistsareblatant,andhavebeenadmittedinnumerousprosodomy
LambdaBookReport,Oct.1996,p.11,CommentingonAlltheRage:ReassertingRadicalLesbian Feminism 101Girlfriends,May/June,1996,p.40 102Frontiers,41996,pg.31
99 100
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9 TheStudiesExposed
GayGeneResearchDoesntHoldUnderScrutiny,ChicagoTribunesJohnCrewdson UncoversPossibleScientificMisconductbyNCIResearcher.103 IfeltifIdidntfindanything,Iwouldgiveupascientificcareeraltogether.104 (SimonLeVay,Activist) By1986sentimentsweregalvanizedinfavorofimplementingthestrategy outlinedinTheGayAgendatocombatthelegalprecedentleftinthewakeof BowersvHardwick.Asthepublicrelationscampaignbegantounfold,media headlinesledmanytobelievethatsamesexattractionsareinnateand unchangeable.Prosodomyactivistscapitalizedonmultiplepseudoscientific studiestomisleadthepublic.Thefollowinganalyseswillexposethese illegitimatestudiesandthemenwhoconductedthem,beginningwiththethree mostcited. TheHypothalamusStudy Thehypothalamusstudywasconductedin1991byDr.SimonLeVaywho workedattheSalkInstituteforBiologicalStudiesinLaJolla,California.LeVays studyanalyzedsizedifferencesinneuronsintheanteriorhypothalamusofthe brainsofcadavers.LeVaypublicizedhisstudyinanefforttoconvincetheworld thatsamesexattractionsarefixed,andcausedbythesizeofthehypothalamus inthebrain. LeVay,itshouldbenoted,hadstrongpersonalandpoliticalincentivesto pursueresearchinthisarea.AccordingtoaNewsweekcoverstoryin1992,LeVay haddevelopedsamesexattractions,engagedinsodomy,andlosthispartnerto AIDS.Thearticlestatesthatwhenhispartner,RichardHeresey,diedofAIDS, LeVaywentintodeepdepression.Hospitalizedfortwoweeks,hebegan reevaluatinghisgoals.Itmakesyouthinkofwhatyourlifeisabout,hesays. Aroundthattime,aUCLAlabannounceditsfindingthataportionofthemale hypothalamuswasmorethantwiceaslargeaswomans.Suddenly,itseemed
103 104
NewYorkNative,71095,p.25 Newsweek:February24,1992p.49
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LeVayhadaresearchareatopursue:wasitalsolargerthanthatofgays?LeVay toldreporters:IfeltifIdidntfindanything,Iwouldgiveupascientificcareer altogether.105 LeVayalsoseemedtounderstandtheimpactthathisstudywouldhave onsociety.Inreferencetothisstudyhewrites,Itsimportanttoeducatesociety. Ithinkthisissuedoesaffectreligiousandlegalattitudes.TheAdvocate,apro sodomymovementmagazineaskedLeVayifhethoughtthatgrounding homosexualityinbiologycouldhelpwinpoliticalequality?LeVayresponded: Allthecivilrightslegislationpassedinthe60sisbasedontheknowledgethat thereisageneticandimmutabledifferencebetweenblacksandwhites.Of course,blacksarestilldiscriminatedagainst,butthelegaladvancestheyve madearebasedonthosegeneticdifferences.AndIthinkthatisamajor stumblingblockforourgainingthesameprotectionasothergroups.Thereisa surveyintheNewYorkTimesthatbrokedownpeopleonthebasisofwhether theythoughtgaysandlesbianswerebornthatwayorwhetheritwasalifestyle choice.Acrosstheboard,thosewhothoughtgaysandlesbianswerebornthat wayweremoreliberalandgayfriendly. LeVayshypothalamusstudyreceivedwidespreadmediaattentionandas aresultcatapultedtheideathatsomemenareborngayintoprominence. Althoughthemisinformedstillquotethestudytodayasproofthatsomemenare borngay,itwasactuallydiscreditedshortlyafteritsreleaseforseveral reasons. First,LeVaycomparedthebrainsofnineteenmenwhosesexualhabitshe didnotknow,(heonlyknewthattheyhaddiedofAIDS,whichisknownto ravagethebrain)withthebrainsofthirteenmenwhosesexualhabitshedidnot know.Itisthereforeimpossibletodrawanyconclusionfromhisstudy.Second, althoughLeVayarguedthatasmallINAH3(hypothalamus)causedmentobe gay,someofthemenwho,accordingtohisguesswork,hadsexwithmen, hadahypothalamusthatwaslargerthantheaveragesizeofthehypothalamus ofthementhat,accordingtohisguesswork,hadsexwithwomen.Further,some ofthemenwho,accordingtohisguessworkhadsexwithwomenhada hypothalamusthatwassmallerthantheaveragesizeofthemenwho,according tohisguessworkhadsexwithmen.So,someofhisgaysubjectsshouldhave beenstraight,andviceversa.Third,SimonLeVayhimselfadmittedin2001that thestudywasinconclusive,ItsimportanttostresswhatIdidntfind.Ididnotprove thathomosexualityisgenetic,orfindageneticcauseforbeinggay.Ididntshowthat gaymenarebornthatway,themostcommonmistakepeoplemakeininterpretingmy
105
Newsweek:February24,1992p.49
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work.NordidIlocateagaycenterinthebrain.106Fourth,theresultsofthe hypothalamusstudyarenotrepeatable.SimonLeVayshypothalamusstudy confusedthepublic.Hopefullythetruthwillsettherecordstraight. TheGayGeneStudy Thenextandmostinfluentialstudyreportedagaygeneandwas conductedin1993byprosodomyactivistDr.DeanHamerandhisteamof geneticistsattheNationalCancerInstitute.Hamerandhiscolleaguesreported thatagaygeneseemedtobematernallylinkedandcouldbefoundonthe Xq28stretchoftheXchromosome.Hamer,whohastestifiedinoppositionto ColoradosAmendment2,whichsoughttokeepmenwhohavesexwithmen fromwinningminorityclassstatus,hasplayedanenormousroleintheborn gayhoax.ThenSenatorRobertC.Smith(RNewHampshire)knewthisand evenaccusedthedoctorofactivelypursu[ing]agayagenda.107 ImmediatelyafterHamersgaygenestudywaspublishedamedia explosionensued.But,likeLeVayshypothalamusstudy,Hamersresultswerea fraud.Thetitleofanarticleappearingintheprosodomymovementmagazine theNewYorkNativeexplains: GayGeneResearchDoesntHoldUnderScrutiny,ChicagoTribunesJohn CrewdsonUncoversPossibleScientificMisconductbyNCIResearcher.108Thearticle begins:InadditiontothepoliticalandsocialfirestormHamersresearchhas ignited,hehasalsobeencriticizedbynumerousscientistsfornotperforming whatseemstobeanobviouscontrolexperiment:examiningthegenesof heterosexualbrothers.Thosescientists,includingtwoprominent geneticist/biologistsatHarvardUniversity[RichardLewontinandRuth Hubbard],werenotgovernmentresearchers.109 Thisomissionissignificant.IfHamerwasrefusingtouseacontrolgroup inhisexperiment,hemusthaverefusedforareason.But,whatcouldthatreason havebeen?Accordingtothearticle,anotherresearcherwhoworkedonthe projecthadattackedHamersintegrityoverthisissue.Thearticlecontinues: EvenworseforHamer,theNationalInstituteofHealthsOfficeof
AsquotedinByrd,etal.,2001,emp.added JoycePrice,FederalCancerLabHuntsforGayGene,TheWashingtonTimes,3April1994 108NewYorkNative,71095,p.25 109NewYorkNative,71095,p.28
106 107
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ResearchIntegrityisnowinvestigatinghisgaygeneresearch,accordingto Crewdson.TheinquiryconcernsallegationsthatHamerwasselectiveabout whichdatahechosetoreport(i.e.,thatheignoreddatathatdidntsupporthis contentionthathomosexualityisgeneticallydetermined).Thedatamanipulation wasreportedtoNIHsintegrityofficebyajuniorresearcherwhoperformed researchcrucialtoHamersclaimeddiscovery,accordingtoCrewdson.110 AsidefromthefactthatitappearsasthoughHamerthrewoutcases whichcontradictedhispreplannedexperimentaloutcome,ifastudysuchashis isscientificallyvalidotherresearchersshouldgetthesameresultswithduplicate experiments.Butthishasnothappened.Thearticlecontinues: IttroublessomescientiststhatHamerhasnotpublishedhisoriginal data,accordingtoCrewdson.Additionally,atleastonelabthathastriedhardto replicatehisfindingshasbeenunsuccessful.Onlyoneindependentlaboratory hasreportedattemptingsuchareplication,andithasfoundnoevidenceto supportHamer,Crewdsonreported.WecantreproduceHamersdata,said GeorgeEbers,aneurogeneticistfromtheUniversityofWesternOntario,whohas searchedunsuccessfullyforaHamerstylegeneticlinktohomosexualityinmore than50pairsofgayCanadianbrothers.Infact,Ebersfoundthegeneticmarkers citedbyHamerinexactlyhalfofhisbrotherpairsaccordingtoCrewdson preciselywhatthelawsofchancewouldpredict,ifthemarkershadno significance.111 OnlyfourmonthsaftertheNewYorkNativearticlewasprinted,the November1995editionofScientificAmericanreportedthatHamerwasbeing chargedwithresearchimproprietiesandwasunderinvestigationbythe NationalInstituteofHealthsFederalOfficeofResearchIntegrity.Accordingto allegationsbyajuniorresearcheronhisteam,Hamerdeliberatelyanddeceitfully excludedpairsofbrotherswhosegeneticmakeupcontradictedhispreplanned experimentaloutcome.NIHneverreleasedtheresultsoftheinquiry,butHamer wasshortlythereaftertransferredtoanothersection.Hehaddonehisgaygene researchunderagranttoworkonKaposissarcoma,askincancerthat inordinatelyafflictsmenwhohavesexwithmen. TheninAprilof1999,GeorgeRiceandGeorgeEbers,both neurogeneticistsfromtheUniversityofWesternOntariodiscreditedHamers resultswhentheypublishedtheirreviewofHamersstudyinScienceMagazine.
110 111
NewYorkNative71095,p.28,(emphasisadded) NewYorkNative,71095,p.25,28
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ThescientistsstatedthattheresultsofHamersstudydidnotsupportanX linkedgeneunderlyingmalehomosexuality.112Theyfoundthatthebrothers observedbytheHamergroupwerenomorelikelytosharetheXq28markers thanwouldbeexpectedbychance.Theseresultsofficiallysoundedthedeath knellforHamersoutrageouslyeffectiveyetdeliberatelydeceptivegaygene study.Anothergroupofresearchers(Sanders,etal.)eventuallytriedtoreplicate Hamersstudyyetagain;theytoofailedtofindageneticconnectionto homosexuality.113 Someoncebelievedthatagaygenewouldbefoundhidingamidst otherchromosomesanalyzedintheHumanGenomeProject.However, accordingtotheNationalCenterforBioTechnologyInformation,uponthe completionoftheHumanGenomeProject,weknowthatneitherthemapforthe XnortheYchromosomescontainsagaygene. Hamerwaseventuallyforcedtoadmitthathisstudydidnotsupporta geneticcauseforhomosexualityandthatfemalehomosexualitywasculturally transmitted,notinheritedandthatThereisnotasinglemastergenethat makespeoplegayIdontthinkwewilleverbeabletopredictwhowillbe gay,hesays.114However,Hamercontinuedtopubliclyclaimthatmale homosexualitywasabout50percentgenetic,50percentenvironmental.Where didhegetthis50percentstatisticfrom?Hamersclaimthatmale homosexualityisabout50percentgeneticisbasedonthegaytwinstudy, whichhasalsobeendiscredited.115 TheGayTwinsStudy ThegaytwinsstudywasconductedbydoctorsMichaelBaileyand RichardPillardfromBostonUniversityinDecemberof1991.TheAdvocate reportedtheresults: BaileyandPillardfoundthat52%oftheidenticaltwinbrothersofgay menweregay,aswere22%offraternaltwinbrothers,and11%ofgenetically unrelatedbrothers.116 Oncereleased,theseresultswerespunintosalesasmagazinecovers,
Riceetal.,1999andWickelgren,1999 DeanH.Hamer,GeorgeRice,NeilRisch,andGeorgeEbers,etal.GeneticsandMaleSexual Orientation(TechnicalComment),Science285(6August1999:803a.) 114TheWashingtonBlade,13098,p.114 115TheWashingtonBlade,13098,p.14 116TheAdvocate,32492,p.61
112 113
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newscasters,andradiobroadcasterscitedtheresultsasproofthatsamesex attractionsaregenetic.Inscientificcircleshowever,problemswerebeginningto surface. First,inordertoshowthathomosexualityisgeneticusingidentical twins,onemustdemonstratethatwhenonetwinisgaytheotherwillalsobe gay100%ofthetime.Theresultsofthistwinsstudyhowever,fellalongway shortofthemark.Further,geneticstellsusthatifonefraternal(nonidentical) twinisgay,thenothernontwinbrothersshouldalsobegayexactlyasoften asarethenonidenticaltwinbrothers,sincenonidenticaltwinsandregular brothersareequallygeneticallydifferent.Inthisstudy,22percentoffraternal (nonidentical)twinsbothclaimedtobegay.Therefore,theirnontwin brothersshouldalsohaveclaimedtohavebeengay22percentofthetime.If thenontwinpercentagewaslower,someenvironmentalcausemusthavebeen atfault,notahiddengaygene.Butthiswasnotthecase.Yetreaderscouldnot haveknownthatthiswasnotthecasebecauseBaileyandPillardleftthe numbersforthegeneticallyrelatednontwinbrothersoutoftheiroriginalreport. Why?Ifthisdatahadsupportedtheiragenda,wouldtheynothaveincludedit aswell? AccordingtoTheAdvocatetheresearcherswithheldimportant informationaboutthenontwinbrothersintheirstudy.TheAdvocatereports: AccordingtoBailey,aheterosexual,thereleaseddatadidnotinclude anothergroupinthestudy:142geneticallyrelatednontwinbrothersofgaymen, ofwhomonly13orabout9percentwerealsogay.117 Ironically,thisstudyshowsthatunrelatedstepbrothersarebothgay moreoftenthangeneticallyrelatedbrothers.Obviously,ifthisdatahadbeen releasedwiththeoriginalresults,itwouldhavebeenimmediatelyclearthat BaileyandPillarddidnotprovetheexistenceofagaygene.Thepercentageof homosexualityinnontwinbrothersissolow(9percent)thathadthestudybeen properlyconductedandreported,itwouldactuallyhavedemonstratedthat samesexattractionandsodomiticbehaviorsarenotcausedbyagaygene.This study,haditbeenproperlyreported,actuallydemonstratesthatenvironmentis acauseforsamesexattraction,notgenes. Asifthiswerenotenough,theprosodomymagazineTheAdvocate reportedanothererror.Thetwinsstudydidnothaveapropersample:Bailey andPillardsstudyhascomeunderattackinscientificcirclesGayscholarshave calledtheirsample,culledthroughadvertisementsingayandlesbian
117
TheAdvocate,32492,p.61
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newspapers,unrepresentativeandtheirdatainconclusive.118 Notonlydidthesescientistsuseunrepresentativesamples,theyalso usedacurious,selfservingdefinitionofgay.Baileyadmitsthatheand Pillardlumpedthebisexualsinwiththegaymen.119Thisiscritical.Ifthemen thatBaileyandPillardwereusingtoshowthatsamesexattractionsaregenetic andunchangeablewereactuallystillattractedtooppositesex,thenthisnotonly destroystheirresults,butitdestroystheircredibilityasscientistsaswell. Conclusion Inconclusion,allstudieswhichhaveclaimedtohavefoundanimmutable causeforsamesexattractionsandsodomyhavecrumbledunderthescrutinyof peerreview.Samesexattractionsarenotgeneticthereisnoscientificevidence whichshowsthattheyare,none,notasinglepersonhasbeenfoundwithany innategaygene,organ,hormone,chemical,orcombinationthereof. InthelightoftruthonecanseewhyactivistsfailedtooverturnBowersv Hardwickbywayofminoritystatus.Theyfailedtoscientificallydemonstratethat personswhodevelopsamesexattractionarebornthatway.Thisisbecausethe conceptwascompletelyfabricated. Whiletheborngayhoaxfailedinonesenseitprevailedinanother. Individualemotionsandopinionsarenotassolid,girdedforwork,orhard pressedtocorrespondwithrealityasscience.Asyearswentbythepublicwas nevertoldthetruthbehindtheheadlines,andAmericafellunderthespellofthe propagandaofTheGayAgenda. Becausethestudieshavelargelygonepubliclyunchallengedageneration hasgrownamidstthelies,whichappearincollegetextbooksacrossthenation. Thesepseudoscientificstudieshavebothdirectlyandindirectlyconvinced millions;includingonejudgeinTexasthatpersonsstrugglingwithsamesex attractionsmustbeborngay,andthatforthisreasonsodomyoughttobe decriminalized. In2003,Bowersv.Hardwickwasoverturnedbyoneactivistjudgein Lawrencev.Texas.Underthefullfaithandcreditclauseofthe14thAmendmentof theU.S.Constitution,Lawrencev.Texastookthepowertocriminalizesodomy awayfromeverystateintheunion.Now,sodomyislegalineverystate.Born gaypropagandistsknowtheywillneverprovescientificallythatanyoneis borngay,sotheyhavelargelyabandonedtheirdirectquestfortraditional
118 119
TheAdvocate,32492,p.61 TheAdvocate,32492,p.62
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minoritystatus. Thus,ironically,afterthelegalizationofsodomyactivistsslammedthe brakesontheborngayhoaxTheGayAgenda.Todaytheonce unimpeachablepropagandahasbeensetasidebyitsowninventors.Elite activistsarenowturningtheirattentiontowardanewgoal:recruitmentand retention.Asaresult,afarmorebrutallielurksjustoverthehorizonof mainstreamAmericanconsciousness:QueerTheory. QueerTheoryholdsthatthereisnosuchthingasgenderorafixed sexualaffiliation.ThecontemporaryQueerholdsthathisorheridentityisa fluidsocialconstruct.Inotherwords,theQueeridentityisactuallythe negationofanintrinsicidentityaltogether.Inordertounderstandthat recruitmentispossiblebywayofQueerTheory,andthroughgeneral recruitmentanddesensitizationviathemassmediaandpornindustries,we mustidentifysomeofthecontemporaryandclassiccausesofbothsamesex attractionandsodomy.Wemustalsobecomeawareofhowthelatemodern gayidentityanditsopposite,thepostmodernqueerantiidentity,actually develop.Further,wemustacknowledgethatreversalsarepossibleandtheways inwhichpoliticalactivistsusepublicignoranceaboutthefluidityandpotential irrationalityofsexualitytotheiradvantage,astheyworkagenerationahead,in theireffortstorecruitunsuspectingyouth. 44
10 TheDevelopmentof SameSexAttraction(SSA)
Despitetheessentialistborngaycaricaturepaintedbylatetwentieth centurypoliticalactivists,therealstorylineremainsindelible.Themajorityof clinicalresearchonSSArevealsthattheconditioncanbeexplainedbybiological, psychological,andsocialfactorsinteractinginvariouscomplexways. AnyexplanationhoweverforSSAoughttobeconsideredanantecedent ratherthanacause.Ofcoursethetemperament,worldview,andvaluesthatone bringstoanexperiencewilleffectdevelopmentsignificantly.Theseindividual differencesthrowawrenchintothespokesofpredictability.Further,the antecedentslistedarenotnecessarilyclearcutanddistinct,noraretheytheonly antecedentspossible.Inaddition,causesmayoverlap,andyoucanexpectsome effectstobecomenewcauses,reinforcingtheiroriginalcauseandproducingthe sameeffectinanintensifiedformandsoonindefinitely.Ananalogy:Aman maytakeadrinkbecausehefeelshimselftobeafailure,andthenfailallthe morecompletelybecausehedrinks.(GeorgeOrwell,AWordonWords)The processisreciprocal,andtheembeddedpointisthatifSSAiswroughtbyabuse and/oradisorderedpsychology,thenthebehaviorcanbeextinguishedoncean individualspsychologicalbaggageischecked,theirloadsarelifted,andtheir centerreordered. Whilereadingthefollowingcategoriesnoticethattheyarenotfocused exclusivelyonSSA,butratheronrelatedpastexperiences.Sincemanycausesof SSAhavetheirtaprootinrelatedissues,treatmentforSSAmaynotliesolelyin treatingSSAorextinguishingbehaviorssuchassodomy(whicharemore effectsthantheyarecauses),butinalsotreatingtheunresolvedcoreissuewhich originallydrovetheindividualtotheunnaturalandthereforedysfunctional lifestyle. HeterophobicSexualDysfunction Heterophobicsexualdysfunctionmightbedescribedasapersistentand irrationalfearand/ordetestationoftheoppositesex(perfectivegender)in
45
relationtosexuality.Inthiscase,persistentfearfrustratestheindividuals naturalandnormativesexualinclination.Asaresult,substitutivesexualdesires developformembersofthesamesex(nonperfectivegender).Significantclinical researchsupportsthistheory,whichindicatesthatsexuallyabusedchildrenare significantlymorelikelytodevelopsamesexattractionandengageinsodomyin adolescenceandadulthoodthanarenonsexuallyabusedchildren. InthemostcomprehensivestudyofhumansexualityinAmericatodate, Dr.EdwardLaumanandhisresearchteamfoundthatindividualswho experiencesexualabuseaschildrenaremorethan3timesaslikelytodevelop samesexattractioninadulthoodanddescribethemselvesasgayin adolescenceandadulthood,thanarethosewhohavenotbeensexuallyabused. SupportingLaumansresultsisastudyconductedbyresearchersDiane ShrierandRobertJohnson.Thisstudyfoundthat58percentofboyswho experiencesexualabuseintheteenageyearswillexperiencesamesexattraction anddescribethemselvesashomosexualorbisexualinadulthood.Insharp contrast,90percentofnonsexuallyabusedteenboyswilldescribethemselvesas heterosexualinadulthood. Otherstudieshighlightthiscorrelationaswell,including(),(),(), and().Significantly,theaforementionedresultsindicatethatinmanycases, sexualabuseinearlychildhoodandadolescenceisasignificantfactorinthe developmentofSSAandsodomitictypebehaviorsinadulthood.Forcomplex reasonsmanyvictimsofsexualabusewillfearand/ordetestmembersofthe opposite/perfectivegenderinadulthood. TheheartwrenchingstoryofEllenDegeneres,whosesamesexattraction mayverywellberootedinabuse,illustratesthispointstarkly.Accordingtothe bookAMother/DaughterJourney,byBettyDegeneres,themotherofthenowself describedgaytalkshowhostEllenDegeneres,herdaughterEllenactually startedoutattractedtomales.Infact,Ellensmotherwritesthat,She(Ellen) wouldtellmeabouthercrushesmainlyonrockstars.Ellensmotheralsowrites that,InhighschoolElhadtheusualdatesandboyfriends.Inhersenioryear, therewasevenapromiseringwithatinydiamondchipfromanicelookingboy. Theywentsteadyforacoupleofmonths.(Ibidp.117)Whatthen,couldhave pushedEllentodevelopsamesexattractions,engageinsodomy,andadoptthe socalledgayidentity? TherewerethreeawfulincidentsinEllenslifewhichmayhave influencedherdevelopment.First,EllensmotherBettytoldJuddRoseonhis PrimeTimeLiveProfileofher,thatthedivorceandourconstantmoveswerevery hardonEllenshewasalwayshavingtoadjusttoanewgroupofkids.Thenexttwo tragedieswerelaterrevealed,whenBettytoldEllenthatshewasthinkingabout divorcingherstepfather,(whotheycallBinthebookAMotherDaughter 46
Journey).Afterlearningoftheimpendingdivorce,Ellenmadeastartling revelationofpreviousmolestationtohermother. EllensmotherBettywrites,Unbeknownsttomeuntil1981,Ellenhad beenkeepinganothersecret,abouttwoordealsshehadsufferedwithB.when shewasinhighschool.HadIbeeninahappy,healthymarriage,shemayhave chosennevertotellme.Asitwas,ononevisitItoldherthatB.andIwerent gettingalongwell,butthelastthingIwantedwasanothermaritalfailure.I confidedinEllenthatIjustdidnthavetheresolvetoleaveandliveonmyown. Ellensfaceshowedherdisappointment.Youdeservebettermother,she said. El,Isaid,hehashisgoodqualities.Andweloveourhome.And besides,Iadded,Whateverhisfaults,Iknowhelovesmealot. ThatswhenEllenshookherhead,sighed,andtoldmewhathad happenedonedaynotlongaftermymastectomy,whenshewasseventeenyears old.Thewordsdidntcomeeasily. Shebegan.Heaskedtofeelmybreast.Youweretakingashower. Shestopped.Ilookedatherincredulously.Whatwasshesaying?Ellen wenton. Hesaidyouwereworriedaboutyourotherbreastandhewantedtofeel minetoseeifyourswaslikemine. Ifeltsicktomystomach.Whatahorribleexperienceforher!Howcould shesayno?Shewasonlyseventeenatthattime,andshewasusedtoconfiding inmeabouteverything.Butforfiveyearsshehadsaidnothing.NowIspoke witheffort,asking,Whydidntyoutellmethisbefore?(Ibid.p.164) Ellenstartedtocry,Afterwhatyoudbeenthrough,Icouldnthurtyou likethatandthenHervoicetrailedoff. Somethingelse?Iasked.Ellookedaroundhelplessly,asifwishingshe didnthavetotellme.Thenshenodded.Therewassomethingelse,shesaid,alot worse,thathappenedaboutayearlater.Oneweekend,whenIhadtoflydown toNewOrleansbecauseMotherwasill,B.gaveEllenaridehomefromthe moviesandmadeapassather.Stillcrying,Elsaid,Ipushedhimaway.Heletit gobutwhenwegothome,insidethehouse,hetriedagain.Shepaused, composingherself.Iwasfurious,confused,andbewildered. Andthenwhathappened?Iaskedwithdread. Iranintomyroomandlockedthedoor.Iwasterrified.Whenhetriedto forceitopen,Iclimbedoutthewindowand,spentthatnightatafriends house. Oh,Ellen,Iamsosorry,Isaid,huggingher.Imsosorry. Thepainofwhatshehadgonethroughtoremeup.Ithurtevenmoreto knowthatshehadcarriedtheburdenofhersecret,unabletotellanyone,andit 47
touchedmebeyondwordsthatshehaddonesobecauseherconcernformeand mywellbeingwassogreat.Itisaspainfulformetowritethistodayasitwasto hearaboutitalmosttwodecadesago.Ofcourse,Iwasangryanddisgustedwith B.ButmorethananythingIblamedmyself.MostofallIblamedmyselfforbeing oblivious.Ishouldhaveknown,Ikeptsaying,Ishouldhaveknown.(Ibid, p.165)IthoughtbacktoElssenioryearwhenshesuddenlywantedtodropout ofschoolandreturntoNewOrleans.Absolutelynot,Ihadsaid,puttingmyfoot downandinsistingthatshegraduate.Itmadenosensetomeatthetime.NowI understandwhyshewassoanxioustogetaway.(Ibid,p.166)(A Mother/DaughterJourneybyBettyDegeneresNewYork,RobWeisbachBooks, 1999) Bettyisright,Ellendidhaveseveralhorribleexperiences,andthe languageEllenusestodescribeherexperiencesshowsthattheycausedhera greatdealofpain.Shewasforcedtolivewithaman(B)forseveralyears,an authoritativefigureinherlife,whohadtriedtomolestherseveraltimes.Ellen hadtolookintoBseyesdaily,knowingwhathehaddone,andperhapswasstill thinkingaboutdoing.Theconstantanxietyandfearmusthavebeen overwhelmingattimes.Shedidcarrytheburdenofherawfulsecret,somuch sothatEllenwantedtodropoutofhighschoolandleavehome.Anditwasonly aftertheseincidentsthatEllenalsodecidedthatshewouldnolongerseek affectionsfromboyfriends.Shenowturnedtowomenforaffectionforthefirst time.ItislikelythatEllengeneralizedherfeelingsoffearandmistrusttowardB. toallmales,afterherhorrificexperiences.ItislikelythatEllenDegeneres acquiredatypeofheterophobiaanddevelopedsubstitutivesamesexattractions asaresult. Surprisingly,despiteEllenshighschoolboyfriendsandunsolicited remarksregardingtherockstarStingpriortoherexperienceswithB,Ellens motherBettyinsiststhatEllenwasborngay.ButBettysbeliefthatEllenwas borngaydespiteevidencetothecontrarymustbeasymptomofdenial.Infact, inherbiography,Bettyrevealsapersonalweaknessfordenialwhendealing withproblemsinherlife,especiallyaboutEllen,andhowthistendencyhasonly madethingsworseintheirlives.Onpage166Bettyexplainsherregretsabout thispastdenial:Inallhonesty,Iwouldrathernothaveincludedtheseeventsin mystoryofmyselfasEverymom.Thatprobablycomesfrommyoldtendency fordenial,forapretenseofnormalityinwhichsuchthingsjustdonothappen. Well,theydidandtheydo.And,aftersomedeliberation,Ichosetotalkabout theminthiscontextinthehopethatsomeothermotheroranyreaderwho mightbeindenialwillpayattentiontoinstinctandactonit(Ibid.p.166) Denial,itmayverywellbethatBettystillhasheroldtendencyfor denial.OnlynowsheistryingtomakeapretenseofnormalityforEllens 48
lesbianism.DespiteobviousevidencethatEllenwasclearlyheterosexualuntil theincidentsofmolestation,Bettyhasdesperatelyswallowedtheborngay excuse,inordertoexplainamajorsymptomofEllensabuse.Itappearsas thoughBettyhasbeensuckedintoacodependentrelationshipwithher daughterandwiththeprosodomymovementingeneralasaresultofmotherly guilt,andhasbecomeanactivepartoftheirdesperatedenial. Bettysbeliefthatsomemenandwomanareborngayfurtherconflicts withthelifestoryofEllensgirlfriendAnneHeche,whoconsideredherself heterosexualuntilshefirstexperiencedsamesexattractionwhenshemetEllen Degeneres.LikeEllen,Annehadaconfusingchildhood.Annesfatherlefther motheronedayinordertopursuesexwithothermenandsoonherfather contractedHIVAIDS.(TheAdvocate,62497,pg.43)Then,onedysfunctional lifeintersectedwithanother:AnnemetEllen,andBettyDegenerescontinuedin denial. Bettywrites,Afterall,upuntilthatnight,Annewasknownas heterosexual.ButAnnespositionwasandisthatloveandattractionarentabout distinctions.AMother/DaughterJourney,Ibid.p.247)DespiteBettys acknowledgementofHechesclearlynonbiologicadmission,shecontinuesto ignorethelessonsofexperience,reason,andtestimony,whichshowthat childrenlearnthroughexample,imitation,fear,etcetera.Andthatdysfunctional examplescananddoleadtodysfunctionalwaysoflife.Unresolvedguiltover herdaughterstraumaticexperiencesseemtohavekeptBettyfrom acknowledgingtheobvious;thatneitherAnneHecheslifestory,norHeches fathers,norEllens,alignthemselveswithherbeliefsthatsamegendersexual impulsesarefixed,innate,andnatural. WhenBettyDegeneres,AnneHeche,andmillionsofothermothersand fathersaroundthecountryproclaimthattheirchildwasborngay,remember KirkandMadsensTheGayAgenda,andrememberBetty,andhowintryingto excuseandjustifythedysfunctionalconditionofEllenDegeneres,shefounda newclosettohidein,theclosetofdenialandcodependency.Keepthesestories inmindwhenprosodomyactiviststrytodragthemediaandthepublicintothe sameclosetofdenialandcodependency.ThetruthisthatEllenwasnotborn gay.ExampleslikeEllens,ofchildhoodsexualabuse,andHeches,ofpoor parenting,seemtobecommontomanyofthelifestoriesofthosewhohave developedsamesexattractionandengageinsodomy. AnarticleappearingintheprosodomymovementmagazineDiva, describestheearlychildhoodabuseofDonnaMinkowitz,aselfdescribed lesbian,andhowthatabusecontributedtohervaluesaboutsamesex attractionsandsodomy:Asachildgrowingupinaviolenthomeenvironment, Minkowitzwasoftenforcedtobillandcoooverhermothersfloatychiffon 49
dressesandoftenfellfoulofherfathersownanger.ConsequentlyMinkowitzspent herteenyearsresistingherparents,associatingheterosexualitywithrepression. AsapoliticalactivistMinkowitzresentedthenotionoffemininity.Lesbianism appealedtohersenseofradicalism,shesays,becauseitconfoundedtheideathat womenweredependentuponmenplusshecoulddressasshepleased.(Diva, March1999,Page32ArticleaboutDonnaMinkowitz) Weusuallythinkoflesbiansaswomenwhoareattractedtoother women,butthetermheterophobicmaybemoresubstantiveforsome.These womenmaycallthemselveslesbianbutactually,theystartedoutfearingone man,andthengeneralizedthisfeartoallmen.Sincethesewomencannot overcomethisfearand/oranger,theycannotdevelophealthyheterosexual relationships,andtheendresultisadisdainforheterosexualityingeneral. Nevertheless,someofthesewomenmayremainattractedtoatypeofmasculine idealaquasiheterosexualattraction.Theylongforthemasculinebutwithout thedangeroflinkingittorealmen.Theselesbianstendtolookforpseudo menortransgenderedwomeninstead.Itmayverywellbethatinthepastof manywhodevelopsamesexattraction,afearoftheoppositesexwas internalizedaswithEllenDegeneresandDonnaMinkowitzandtheirfearof theirabusivefathers. (Describehowifexperienceisgoodbymemberofsamesextheyarelikely toremainthatwayandifbadbymemberofsamesexmolestationlikelyto change) AttentionBasedSexualDysfunction ThecategoryofAttentionBasedSexualDysfunction(ABSD)canbe usedtodescribeanyperson,maleorfemale,whoconsistentlyperformssexual actsspecificallyforthesakeofattention,whetheritisforpublicattentionorthe privateattentionofamate. Somepeopleengageinsamesexeroticbehaviorinordertogainattention publicorprivateattention.Afterengaginginthisbehavior,someofthesepeople willdeveloplastingsamesexattractionsandotherswillnot.Thedetermining factorsarerelatedtothequalityoftheexperience,thevaluesbywhichaperson laterinterpretstheexperience. Further,somepeopledevelopsamesexattractionsduetoalackof attention.Sometimesnormallevelsofattentionwillreduceandextinguishthese attractions,andsometimestheywillnot.InthissectionIwillprovideone exampleoftwowomenwhochosetoengageinhomoeroticbehaviorinorderto receivepublicattention,andtwoexamplesofpersonswhoclaimtohave developedsamesexattractionsafterexperiencingalackofattentionfroma 50
samesexparent. Inrecentyears,itseemstohavebecomepopularforfemalestoperform homoeroticactsononeanotherinpublicforattention.TakeBrittanySpearsand Madonnaforexample,thetwowomenwerequicklybecomingyesterdaysnews, soinanattempttosolvethisproblemtheyresortedtoshockandexploited themselvesbyperformingasamesexeroticactonnationaltelevisionfor attention.Theyarenottheonlyones.Ithasalsobecomepopularforcollegeaged girlstoperformsamesexeroticactsononeanotherinordertoreceiveattention fromtheirpeers.Theywanttobeperceivedasedgy.Inordertocompetefor similarattentionfrompeers,youngercollegeagegirlsmayimitatethem.Someof thesewilldevelopsamesexattractionafterperformingtheact,oracertain numberoftheacts,whileotherswillnot.Thisprocessiscalledoperant conditioning. Deeper,moreseriousformsofattentionbasedhomoeroticismhavebeen thesubjectofclinicalresearch.Thefollowingexemplifiesthistype.Thefirstwere takendiscussthis. FirstwehaveastudyconductedbyDr.RichardGreenfrom illustratesthestoryofoneyoungpatientandhisstruggleforattentionfrom othermales.Thefollowingnarrativeexemplifiesboththestruggleandapparent successofthispatientinovercominghisattentionbasedhomosexualdesires. Letslistenin: Dr.GreenAcoupleofyearsagoyoutoldmethatyouhadsomesexual feelingsaboutmales.Towhatextentdidthatevolveoverthelastcoupleof years? PatientItsdisappeared.Almostcompletely.Infact,Ithinkmy relationshipwithguyshasbecomemuchmoresure.Forexample,Idontfeelself conscioushuggingaverygoodfriendifhesmale,butIwouldntsleepwith anotherguyorhaveanykindofsexwithanotherguy.Thatsjustnotsomething Idorightnow. Dr.GreenHowstrongwereyourfeelingsacoupleofyearsago? PatientSometimestheywereverystrong. Dr.GreenWhydoyouthinktheydecreased? PatientBecause,IthinkIhavefoundtheattentionIneedfromguys thoughmyfriends,andIhavediscoveredhowmuchfungirlscanbe,sothe sexualorromanticinteresthasdeclined. Dr.GreenHowdidthatdisplacethesexualandromanticneedswith guysyouhadearlier? PatientProbablythroughaverycomplicatedprocess.ThatisafeelingI have.AsIcametobefriendswithpeoplewithwhomIcandiscussverypersonal feelings,thentheneedtoperhapshavesexwiththem,disappeared.BecauseI 51
thinkoftensexandromanticfeelingsaresimplyanextensionofverydeep personalfeelings. Dr.GreenItsnotlikeyoursayingtheirsubstitutes? PatientNotnecessarilysubstitutes,butanextension,andifyoucandeal withperhapsasubstituteisabetterword,nowthatIthinkaboutitbutifyou candealwiththeemotionsthemselves,thenyoudontneedtoextend. Dr.GreenItsoundslikeifonewentup,theotherwentdown. PatientYes. Dr.GreenYoufoundyourselfmoreabletorelatecomfortablytomales, andsexualfeelingstomalesdecreases? PatientRight. Dr.GreenWereyoufeelingadepravationofbeingabletorelate comfortablytomales? PatientNotadepravation.Well,depravationisaverystrongword.But saythatIknewthatIdidnotsharemanycommoninterestswithotherguysmy age,andIhadasensethatthatwaswrong.Now,Ihavecommoninterestswith myfriends.IknowlongerhaveasenseofthewayIwas,notbeinginterestedin sportsorthingslikethat,asbad,asnegative.(TheSissyBoySyndrome, p.366) Dr.Greensstudyofcrossgenderbehavioridentificationinboysfoundthe followingresults;27.3%eventuallybecameheterosexual,31.8%became bisexual,40.9%becamehomosexual(TheSissyBoySyndrome,p.366)From thisstudy,onemightconcludethatearlycrossgenderbehaviorsmaymakeit hardforyoungboystorelatetotheirmalepeers,andthatthelatersexualneed formalesissometimesasubstitute,orextensionforalackofnonsexual attentionfrommales. Anotherstudy,conductedbyIrvingBarberandhiscolleagues,highlights thispointaswell.Thestudyapparentlyfoundatriangularpatterninthefamily backgroundsofmanymalehomosexuals.Thesemenreportedanemotionally detachedorhostilefatherandenmeshed,closebindingmotherwhotendedto minimizeherhusband.*Thisstudyisanotherindicationthathomosexuals maybedesperatelysearchingforthemaleattentiontheyweredeprivedofby othermen,includingtheirfathers. Dr.JosephNicolosi,fromacknowledgedattentionbased homosexualitywhenhewrotethatmalehomosexualityisadevelopmental problemthatisalmostalwaystheresultofproblemsinfamilyrelations, particularlybetweenfatherandson.Asaresultoffailurewiththefather,theboy doesnotinternalizemalegenderidentity,anddevelopshomosexuality.Thisis themostcommonlyseenclinicalmodel.(Nicolosi,1991:25) Yetanotherresearcher,MarvinSiegelman,foundasimilardynamic 52
whenhecomparedthefamiliesof307homosexualmales,withacontrolgroupof 138heterosexualmales.Hestatedthat,thehomosexuals,incontrasttothe heterosexuals,reportedtheirfathertobemorerejectingandlessloving...the homosexualsreportedlessclosenesstotheirfathersthantheheterosexuals.( TheCaseforMarriage) Humanbeingslearnthroughexampleandimitation.Humanbeingsalso learnthroughpositiveandnegativesocialandphysicalreinforcement. Theoreticallythen,youngboys,whosefathersarerarelyaround,areraised predominatelybytheirmothers.Ifshelteredbyaclosebindingsinglemother, theboywillhavefewexamplesotherthanherfromwhichtoimitateandlearn howtoact.JustastheWildChildofthe1980s,raisedbywolves,tendedto walkandactlikewolves,youngmenwithonlytheirmotheraroundduringtheir formativeyears,maydevelopmostlyfemalemannerisms.Whentheboyenters school,hemayhavetroublerelatingtotheotherboys.Further,thischildmaybe shunnedbytheotherboys.Atthispoint,theboymaycometotherealization thatheisdifferent.Asyearsrollbythechildmaydevelopcloserelationships withgirls,andboysmaybecomedistantanddifficulttotalkto,andtherefore socializewith.Astheotherboyssocializenormallytogetherovertheyears,the gapmaywidenbetweenthenoweffeminateboyandtheothersmaywiden. Ahumanbeingswilltendtodesirewhathersheseesothersdesiring. Thisphenomenoniscalledmimeticdesire.Iftheeffeminateboyisaroundgirls relatetothegirlsandnottheboys.theothernoticethathespeaksandactsmore likethegirllearnataveryyoungagebywatchingtheirmothers.Infact,one interviewsuggestsjustthat. Question:Mike,canyoutellushowyoubelieveyoursamegender attractionfirstdeveloped? Mike:Itgoesbackveryearly.Myfather,becauseofhisdefinitionof masculinitybeingathleticism,pushedmequitehardandindoingsowould verballyridiculemeasMichelleratherthanMichaelandcallingmehisthird daughter.Hethoughtitwouldtoughenmeup,butitonlyhurt.Andsoahealthy invitationtomasculinitywasnotpresentataveryyoungage,andIbecamea mommasboy.IthinkthatIwasntabletomeetanemotionalneedtobe accepted.ThatGodgivenhomoemotionalneedthatweallhavetofirinwith oursamesexpeerswasnevermet,andsothatwasthegenesesofit. Question:Whenyoubegantoidentifymorewiththefeminine,wereyou identifyingwithyourmomoryourtowsisters? Mike:Probablyboth.MorewithmysistersbecauseIreallylovedthem. Theyweretentotwelveyearsolderthanme,andtheywereverypopularinhigh schoolcheerleadersandhomecomingtypes.Iwasusedtobeingaroundolder people,andIhadahardtimebondingwithmypeergroupbecauseIwasusedto 53
hangingoutwithgirlsandolderpeople,whoIbondedwith.Ineverwantedto beagirl,butpartofitwasthattheenvironmentaroundmewassostrongly femininebecauseDadworkedallthetime.Heownedsportinggoodstoresand wastryingtokeepfoodonthetable.MyworldwasfemininebecausewhenI wasfive,six,seven,mysisterswerefifteen,sixteen,seventeen.Whatisagirls dreamatthatage?Alltheyevertalkedaboutwasboys,boys,boys,andsopart ofmealwayswonderedifIwasalsomodeledtolookatyoungboysaswell becauseIsoidentifiedwithmysistersworld. Question:Becausetheywerelookingatboysandtalkingaboutboys? Mike:Yes,becausetheywerealwayslookingatboys,makingcomments aboutthemandtotallyintriguedaboutthemasculine.Iknowthatthathadto haveplayedintomyconfusionwonderingwhyeverythingwasfixatedon masculinityandsixteenandseventeenyearoldgirlsweredefinitelyfixatedon menandboys.IthinksomeofthatdrewoutmyownmystiqueIhadtowardthe masculineworld,becauseIwasdefinitelynotcomfortablethere.Itwasother forme,justlikeitwasformysisters. Question:Whendidyoufirstsensethatyouwereattractedtothesame sex? Mike:Very,early,frankly.BeforeevenpubertyhitIrealizedthatIhad attractionthere,thatIhadintriguethere.Iwasinvolvedinchildhoodsexplay fromaveryearlyage.Ireallykickedintogearattheageofelevenwhenthat manabusedme. Question:Whydontyousharethatimportantpartofyourstory? Mike:Itreallykickedinattheageofelevenwhenamanwhoworked withmyfatherinhissportinggoodsstorebegantopayalotofattentiontome. Hekindofpulledmein,wasveryfriendlytowardmetookmesurfingand investedinmylife.Acoupleofmonthslatertheattentionturnedsexual.Andat thatstageoflifeaprepubescentmalechildisveryinterestedinthesexual componentoflife.Whenyouareintroducedtothesesthingsfromaveryearly agetheyholdalotofweight,power,andsignificance,andsohewasvery sexuallyactivewithme,andthatplayedalotintotheintrigue.Ithinkthe homosexualitytookrootinmylifeinthatperiod. Question:Youusethewordintrigue,andwehaveheardotherformer homosexualstalkofthemysteryorintrigueofthesamesex.Youarereallynot surewhoyouare.Youwonderwhatitsreallyliketobeaboyorman.Doesthat resonatewithyou? Mike:Yes,absolutely.IfyouthinkabouthowanormalchilddevelopsI hatetousethatwordnormalbutyouknowwhatImeanachildthatdevelops inahealthywayisidentifiedwithhissamesexpeergroup.So,letstakeayoung boy.Hegrowsupandisidentifiedinahealthywaywithhissamesexpeers,and 54
whenpubertykicksinforhim,heisdrawntotheobjectofdifferenceorthe objectofcuriositytheother.Forawelladjustedyoungboythatwouldbethe femalesociety.Girlsaredifferent,andhedoesntknowtheirworld;hedoesnt knowwhotheyare. Butforme,andmostprehomosexualboys(aswetendtocallthem),they feelinsecure,andthemaleholdsalotofmystique,tousethatwordagain. Theydontfeelidentified,liketheyfitinthere,butyettheyknowthatswhere theyaresupposedtobe.Andsooftenwhenpubertykicksin,thatunmet emotionalneedorthatdesireissexualized,andthatsoftenhowwesee homosexualitytakerootinmostboys.Butthenyouaddthesexualabuse,such asinmycaseandmany,manyboyslikeme.Andthenthereisthepeerlabeling. Ahugecomponentiswhenyouarelabeledoncampusasfagorfag,and thatlabeltendstobetheonethatmakessenseeventhoughyouhateit.Ittends tobeonethatkindofdefinesyou,andthatcanbeincrediblysolidifyingina personsidentityevenifyouwanttorejectitwitheverythinginyou. Question:Thissexualabuseoccurredfromageelevenuntileighteen.Tell uswhathappenedwhenyouwentintoyourhighschoolcounselorand confessedthatyouthoughyoumighthavesamesexattraction. Mike:Iwenttoseeherbecauseitwasasafehaven,andIsharedwith herwhatwasgoingonwithmeandwhatIwasfeeling.Ididntsharethesexual abusebecauseIsmartenoughtoknowthatitwouldgetthismanintrouble,but itdidntfeelabusivetome.Thiswasaplacewheretherewasanolderman payingattentiontome,andthatwassomethingIneeded.Sure,sexwasa component,butwhatteenageboyisntinterestedinsex?SoIsatwithherand sharedwithherwhatIwasthinking,whatIwasfeeling,thatIdidntfeellike oneoftheguysandthatIwasenjoyingthesexualcomponentofitall.Her responsetomewasthat,fromeverythingthatsheunderstoodabouttheissueof homosexuality,youwerebornthiswaytoliveahealthy,productivelife.From whatIrememberoftheconversation,shesaid,Iknowthatyoucomefroma religiousfamily,andsheencouragedmenottoworrythatmyreligiousbeliefs mightbeoffendedbythewayIwaslivingandthatIshouldlivetruetowhoI am. Question:Sobasicallyshewassayingnottoletyourreligiousbeliefs interferewithyourfeelings? Mike:Right.Basically,shewassayingtoliveahealthy,productivelife, youaregoingtohavetoridyourselfofthehomophobiathatyouhavelearned religiously;tostateitinnarrowterms.Thiswasagaininthe1980s,sothishas beengoingonforyearsandyears.Thousandsofstudentsgotoschool counselorsjustasIdid.Askthemtoshowyoutheresourcelisttheyusetohelp suchstudents.Youwillbegivencompletelyprogayresources.Youwillneverbe 55
toldaboutNARTHtheNationalAssocaitionofResearchandTherapyof Homosexualitywhichisthemostprolificorganizationofprofessionalsthathelp menandwomenwalkawayfromhomosexualityfromaclinical/psychological standpoint.YouwillneverhearaboutExodusInternational,whichagainisthe largestChristianorganizationwithhundredsofministriesworldwidethathelp menandwomenwalkawayfromhomosexualityandministertothefamiliesas well.Helplikethis,whichhashelpedthousandsofpeople,ismissing.Most counselorshaveneverbeentoldaboutit. WhatimpactedmesodeeplywasthiscounselortellingmeIwasbornthis way.ItmadesensetomewhenIwastoldtherewasagaygene.Thatwasthe explanationforeallthisnature. Question:Backup.Yousaid,ItmadesensewhenIwastoldtherewasa gaygene. Mike:Right.ItmadesensewhenIwastoldtherewasagaygene,because itseemedthatIhadalwaysfeltthiswayfromaslongasIcanremember.Inever chosetobegay.Ionlyseemedtocometotermswithit.Andthisnewsonly confirmeditforme.ButinawayitmademedepressedforawhilebecauseI thoughtIreallywantedawideandkids.Iwantednormalcy.ButsinceIhad thisgaygene,Ithought,well,thisiswhoIamgoingtohavetobetherestof mylife.AtthatpointIhadprettystrongresolveasaperson,andIthinkit workedagainstme.AndIsetmyheartonthefactthatIwasgoingtobegay,and alltherewasnowwastomakethebestofit. Question:Soyouwentfullboreintolivinghomosexuality? Mike:Absolutely.Forthenexttwelveyears,fromtheageofsixteento twentyeight,Iwascompletelyinvolvedinthegaycommunityandliveda doublelife,andfinallyIjustcompletelycameoutandprettymuchleftmyfaith behind.IwantednothingmoretodowithChristianityfromanumberofyears.I waslivingasagayman,goingfromrelationshiptorelationship.Itwaswhatall ofmygayfriendsdid. Thissameprinciplemayverywellapplytofemalehomosexualityaswell. Younggirlswithmotherswhoarerejectingandlesslovingappeartobemore likelytodevelopsamegendersexualdesires,perhapsasasubstituteor extensionforalackofnonsexualattentionfromtheirmothersand/orother females. OnesuchexampleistherockandrolliconMelissaEtheridge,a homosexualwhopubliclyclaimstohavebeenborngaybut,inonespecialized homosexualistpublicationsheadmitsthatasignificantcontributiontoher homosexualfeelingscameinherearlyenvironment.Sheconcedes:My relationshipwithmymother.Itwasstrainedasachild,andIthinkthataddsto myattractiontowomen.ItsaboutwhatIdidntgetasachild:thatfemale 56
energyIcrave. EvenMelissaEtheridge,whoclaimstohavebeenborngay,also contradictorily,admitstobeingattractedtomen.Justreadherconversation abouttherockstarStingwhichtookplaceduringaninterviewbetweenthree supposedexclusivelesbiansJudyWieder(interviewerfromthehomosexual magazinetheAdvocate)MelissaEtheridgeandJulieCypher: Etheridge:Oh,theresacrush!Iopenedafewshowsforhim. Wieder:Oh,well,weveallhadthatcrushjeeze. Etheridge:Iknow,Iknow.HedbroughtmeuptosingEveryBreathYou Take.Anditwashisfirstencore,sohedtakenoffhisshirt.Hessobeautiful.I justwantedtotouchhim. Cypher:Andyoudid. Etheridge:Yes,Ididacoupleoftimes.Iappreciatebeautyinallitsforms maleandfemale,allenergies.Butasfarasrelationshipsgoorreallyfallingin love,Iveonlybeenattractedtowomen. ThesesupposedexclusivelesbianssoundjustlikeagroupofJr.High teenyboppersdroolingovertheBackstreetBoys.Thesewomenweresupposed tohavebeenbornhomosexual,universallyincapableofheterosexualattractions; yet,theyareallsexuallyattractedtoSting.So,howthencantheyclaimtohave beenbornexclusivelyhomosexual?Thisisablatantcontradiction,one suppressedbydenial.Sexualconfusionseemstobeastapleofthehomosexual community,notfixedcategoricalcertainty. HeteroRepugnantHomoNarcissism ThecategoryofHeteroRepugnantHomoNarcissismmaybeusedto describeanyperson,maleorfemale,whohasdevelopedadeepandgeneralized hatetoward,or,pridebased,prejudicialviewoftheoppositesex,andasaresult ofthisprideorprejudice,theydevelopsamegendersexualattractions. Examplesofheterorepugnanthomonarcissismhavebeencommonin worldhistory.For,example,theGreekidealwasacultureofpederasticmale supremacy.Malehomosexuality,especiallybetweenmenandboys,was consideredavirtueinHellenic(Greek)society.Theultramasculinemilitaristic idealofGreecesubjugatedwomen,whowerebelievedtobealowerspecies. Thus,heterosexualitywasrelegatedtoprocreativeends,whilehomosexuality wasconsideredavirtue. Anexampleofonemandiscussinghisheterorepugnanthomonarcissism inmorerecenttimescanbefoundinthetranscriptsoftheJanuary3,1992edition ofthePhilDonahueShow.Onthatepisode,aprominenthomosexualwriter, FrankAqueno,admittedhisinternalizedheterorepugnanthomonarcissism 57
whenhesaid,WhenyouwerefiveorfourorthreeIllspeakformyselfIwas absorbingthesocietyaroundme.InoticedwhenIwasgrowingupthatwomen werenotmyequals.Thatwasabsorbed.Icouldnttalkaboutit.Icouldntspeak aboutit.Ididnthavethewordsforit.ButIabsorbeditLateron,whenthe juicesstartedflowingandIstartedtohavefantasies,theywereaboutmen becausetheyweremyequals.(DonahueTranscript,1392,p.5) Coincidently,inaMay16th1997issueofthehomosexualistmagazine Frontiersalesbianadmittedherrevulsionformenandheterosexualityingeneral forthatmatter,whenshestatedthatmenaretheenemy.Forthisreason,she selfadmittedlychangedherpreferencefromheterosexualtohomosexual.This womansays,Theimpactofmyleapfromstraightgirltoradicaldykewas cushionedbythewomansmovement,inwhichcontextlesbianwasnotonly considerednormalbutpreferable,theexemplarychoice.Straightwomenwere suspectforgivingcomforttotheenemy,whilelesbianswereseenasthenatural vanguardinthestruggleagainstmalesupremacy.Womanandmenwere believedtooccupytwodifferentandhostileworlds,withlesbiansandgaymen standingatthepolarextremesofeach.(Frontiers,51697,p.60) Fortunately,thislesbiangoesontoexplainthatshelatersomewhat modifiedherantimalemotivations,whichpromptedhertochangefrom straightgirltoradicaldyke.Ivealsohadthechancetogrowmore comfortablewithmalesexuality,shesays,forwhich,asaradicalfeminist,I haddevelopedbothatheoreticalandavisceraldistaste.(Frontiers,51697, p.61) Anotherlesbian,RitaMaeBrown(authorofthebestsellinglesbianbook RubyfruitJungleandaformerloveroftennisproMartinaNavratilova)also declaresthatherlesbianismistheresultofherrepugnanceforthesocialstanding ofmen.IbecamealesbianbecausetheculturethatIliveinisviolentlyanti woman.HowcouldI,awoman,participateinaculturethatdeniesmy humanity?Togiveamansupportandlovebeforegivingittoasisteristo supportthatculture,thatpowersystem.(LillianFaderman,OddGirlsand TwilightLovers,p.207) JanClausen,theprominentlesbianauthor,talkedabouthowharditwas forhertoabandonherenvironmentallyacquiredheterorepugnantfeminist lesbianidentityinherbookApplesandOrangesafterfallinginlovewithaman. ButnowthepainIwasexperiencingaswhathadseemedasolididentity unraveled,leavingavertiginousabsenceofplausiblenarrativestructureSurely itcouldntputmethroughanymorementalanguishthanwhatIdfeltweeping inashabbyhotelroomwheremynewmaleloverandIhadspentanardent weekend,asIbitterlyconfessed,Ihatetheinstitutionofheterosexualityand Iminlovewithyou.(JanClausen,ApplesandOranges:MyJourneytoSexual 58
Identity,pp.xviixviii) ParentallyandCulturallyTransmittedSexualDysfunctionanyperson, maleorfemale,thatexperimentswithhomosexualbehaviors,and/ordevelops homoeroticdesiresbecauseofculturalorfamilialinfluence. Again,childrenlearnthroughimitation,thisprocessiscalledmimesis. Further,peopleingeneral,tendtodesirewhattheyseeothersdesiring,this phenomenonincalledmimeticdesire.Ifmimesisandmimeticdesirearereal phenomenon,thenevidenceoughttobeavailable,whichindicatesthatchildren raisedinfamiliesorcultureswhichhavenormalizedsamegendersexuality shouldbemorelikelytoengageinsamegendersexthemselves.Thequestionis, canwefindanysuchevidence?Indeed. Culturesinwhichthepracticeofsamegendersexandevensamegender sexwithchildrenbecamenormalandwidespreadincludetheancientGreek culture,theancientRomanculturefourteenofthefirstfifteenRomanemperors engagedinsamegendersex,TuscanyandNorthernItalianculture(duringthe Renaissance),Aztecculture(priortotheSpanishconquestofMexico),pre modernJapan(fromthemedievalperioduntiltheendofthe19thcenturybefore theMeijiRestoration)andtherearemore,manymore.Egypt,Persia,Carthage, Babylon,andAssyriawereallsteepedinmanmanandmanboysexual traditions.AndtheancientempiresoftheMongols,Tartars,Huns,Teutons, Celts,Incas,Aztecs,Mayans,Nubians,Mings,Canaanites,Samarians,andZulus likewisecelebratedsamegendersex.Samegendersexwasendemicamongstthe ancientfollowersofBaalandinTahititherewerespecialdivinitiesforsame gendersexualworship. Inlightofthesefactsitbecomesobviousthatthebeliefinagaygeneor thesearchforotherbiologicalexplanationsforsamegendersexauldesires revealsadeepignoranceofhistory.SamegendersexactivistandauthorLillian Fadermanmakesthispointstarklywhenshewrites: Maybethescientificeyethatisstucktothemicroscopejustcannotbe expectedtoscrutinizehistoryoranthropologyorculturaltheory.Dothegay genescientistsknowhowcommonlesbianrelationshipsareamongthecowives ofthepolygamousZandetribeofcentralAfrica?Dotheyknowthatthe AustralianAboriginalfemalewasexpectedtoformarelationshipwithher femalecrosscousin,whosefamilywouldthengivehertheirsontomarry?Do theyknowthatamongTahitianwomenmutualmouthgenitalcontactand mutualmasturbationiscommonanddoesnotprecludetheirengagingin heterosexualbehavior?(LillianFaderman;TheAdvocateFebruary6th1996, Pg.72)Theforegoingwerebutafewexamplesofcultureswhichhave encouragedhomosexualandpederastbehavior,andasaresulthomosexuality andpederasty(childmolestation)becamewidespread. 59
Thetestimonyofhistoryisclear,anditsmessagehasbeenrecognizedby research.AccordingtotheAmericanSociologicalReview,astartling64%of youngadults,malesandfemales,raisedbylesbianmothershaveconsidered enteringintohomosexualrelationshipseitherinthepast,noworinthefuture.In sharpcontrast,only17percentofyoungadultswhogrewupinnaturalfamily environmentsreportedconsideringthesamething.Theauthorsofthisstudy concludethatthereisamoderatedegreeofparenttochildtransmissionofsexual orientation.So,yes,undoubtedly,childrenraisedbyhomosexualparentsare significantlymorelikelytodevelopsamegendersexualinclinationsandengage insamesexinadolescenceandadulthood. SamegendersexactivistandliterarysavantJenniferDiMarcoisonesuch example.Ina1993interviewwithDeneuveMagazineshetoldreporterDiane Andersonthatherfatherdiedwhenshewasonlyfive.Herbiologicalmother,a femaleconstructionworkerandchildrensbookauthoreventuallysettleddown withanotherwoman.Isawlesbiansasstrongwomen,warriors,shesaid. WhenIwaslittle,Idsay,Boy,youresuchalesbianwhenImeantthat someonewasstrong.Atthetimethisinterviewwasconducted,DiMarcowas datingYoshiko,awoman.DiMarco,itseemsbecamenearlyacloneofher mother,she,likehermother,workedconstructioninthesummers,wasawriter, andengagedinsamegendersex.Thisisagreatexampleofhow,whenaperson admiresanauthoritativefigureintheirlife,theystrivetoemulatethatperson, sometimestotheextreme.(Deneuve,November/December,1993p.40)
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11 AreReversalsPossible?
ItsbeenafewyearssinceIfirstheardthewordhasbianusedtodescribealesbianwho hadgonebacktomen. (Activist,LyndsyGelder)120 PopstarSineadOConnorshockedtheworldinJuneof2000whenshe said,Imalesbian...althoughIhavenotbeenveryopenaboutthat,andthrough outmostofmylifeIvegoneoutwithblokes(men)becauseIhaventbeen terriblycomfortableaboutbeingalesbian.ButIactuallyamalesbian. Then,OConnercountershockedtheprosodomyworldthathad applaudedhercomingoutwhenshewithdrewfromparticipatingina lesbianmusicfestivalbecauseofhermarriagetoBritishPressAssociation reporter,NickSommerladaman!SineadOConnorseemstohavegenuinely changedhersocalledsexualorientationtwice,inlessthantwoyears. Similarly,anarticleappearinginTheAdvocate,aboutthenowseparated coupleEllenDegeneresandAnneHechestates,Althoughthecouplehasnever publiclydiscussedthereasonfortheirbreakup,ithasbeenheavilyrumoredthat Hechedecidedtogobacktoheterosexuality.121 Therumorsturnedouttobetrue.HechemarriedamanonSeptember1st 2001.TheAdvocatetellsofHecheshockingOprahWinfreybyproclaiming,Iwas notgaybeforeImether(Ellen).Thisphenomenoncausesthewriterofthe articletoask,Withstraightsfallingforgays,lesbiansdatingmen,andgaymen fallinginlovewithwomen,isntanybodyanythinganymore?Thewriterrefers toHechesfeelingsas,fluidsexualitychangingsexualitythesexualitythat causesallsortsofproblemsinagaymovementinwhichsomespokespeoplefor yearshavebeeninsistingthat,Werebornthisway,wecantchange.122 Thesewomenarenottheonlyonestochangethesupposedly unchangeable.BruceBawer,mostfamousforhisbookAPlaceattheTable admittedtochanginghissexualorientationwhenhetoldaNewYorkNative
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reporterthathewasleftcoldbyBobandRod,buthotforCatherine Deneuve.123 InhisbookBreakingtheSurface,formerOlympicdivingchampionGreg Louganis,states:whatmadethingsmoreconfusingwasthatIfoundgirls attractive,Ithoughtthatifyouweregaygirlsweresupposedtorepulseyou,but thatwasntthecase,Iwassexuallyinvolvedwithonegirlfromaveryearly age.124 Butfallingforamemberoftheoppositesexcanbeseenastreasonwithin theprosodomymovement,asitwasforprosodomyauthorJanClausen.When shefellforamanshepaidforit.After12yearsinalesbianmarriage,Jan Clausenfellinlovewithaman.Sinceheridentitiesaswriterandlesbianwere intertwined,allhellbrokeloose.Clausensbooksareyankedoffcollegereading lists.Shelosesfriends,community,andstatus.Onefeelssympathyforagood writerostracizedfromthecultureshehelpedcreate.Leavingalesbianforaman shemusesisstilltheequivalentofamortalsin.125 Thesecondcomingout,thecomingoutofthesocalledgaylifestyle canbecontroversial.ProsodomyactivistAmberHollibaughstates:itsvery controversial,totalkabouthavingsexwithmeninherbookDykeLife.126Not onlyisthesecondcomingoutcontroversial,exgayswilloftenfacehostility anddiscrimination.AuthorKarenKernertellsusofonepreviouslygay womansmountainclimbingexpedition,duringwhichshebegananaffairwitha maleclimber,Dave,andafterwhichshefacedrejection. WhenGretaarrivedbackhome,theclimatechilledformorereasons thanautumn.Asthenewsofhersexualaffairspread(andaformerlesbianlover calledtoconfirmtherumor),shefeltsuddenlywatched,judged.Whilequeers worriedabouthidingtheirsexualitiesinthishomophobiclittletown,my concernswenttheotherway.IdidntwantthelesbiancommunityIcaredabout tomonitormeholdinghandswithDave,laughingwithhim,having breakfast.127 JohnPreston,coauthorofthebookSisterandBrotherandonetimeeditor oftheprosodomynewsmagazineTheAdvocatediscussedastumblingblockthat heoncefaced,hisfearofbeingrejectedbyhispeersforrevealingthathehad oncebeenattractedtotwofemaleroommates.Prestonreminisces:Wealso quicklylearnedthatsuchthoughtsandactivitieswerebestkepttoourselves.The
NewYorkNative,9495,pg.32 xxxxxxxxx 125TheAdvocate,April27th1999,pg.88 126(DykeLife,ByDr.KarenF.Kerner,EditedbyDr.KarlaJay,DirectoroftheWomansStudies DepartmentatPaceUniversitypg320) 127DykeLifepg261
123 124
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gayandlesbiancommunitydidntwantitsleaderstobeindulginginany explorationofheterosexuality.Itwasbesttoputourattractionsandour occasionalexplorationsintoanewcloset.128 Yes,surprisingly,theprosodomycommunityhasclosetsofitown;and thecommunityhidestheirsecretheterosexualescapadesandattractionsbeneath layersofpublicborngaypropagandaandlies.Theydontwantwordtoget outthattheborngayidentityisreallyafluidsocialconstruct.Noticehowever, howironicallyopenprosodomyactivistsdiscussthechangeablenatureof sexualityamongstthemselves,intheirownprivatepublications. OUT,aleadingprosodomypublication,givesitsopinionofthe previouslymentionedbook,SisterandBrotherabookaboutsocalledgay menandlesbianwomansleepingtogether:Compiledbytwoofourmost notedculturalhistorians;thisrichanthologyponderstheinextricableand complexbondbetweenlesbiansandgaymen.In30essaysbywritersboth knownandnew,talesunfoldofremarkablefriendshipsthataresometimes adversarial,sometimesromantic,andmorethanoccasionally,sexual.129 TheLambdaBookReport,aleadingprosodomypublicationgivesitstake: Inprivate,ofcourse,thelivesofmanygaymenandlesbianshavealways overlapped,asthestoriescollectedinSisterandBrotherattestTheyhavebeen alliesatwork,siblingsinfamilies,partnersincommunityaffairs,business,and parenting.Sometimes,theyhavebeenhusbandsandwives,andoccasionally lovers.130 Anotherprosodomypublication,TheNewYorkNative,alsoendorsesthe bookthathighlightsstarklythechangeablenatureofsexualdesire.TheNewYork NativebeginsitscolumnontheLambdaLiteraryAwardswiththefollowing caption:SisterandBrothersetsthetoneforseventhannualgayandlesbian bookawards.Thecolumncontinues,Inclusivenesswasthethemeofthisyears LambdaLiteraryAwardwinners.Manyofthebooksselectedthisyeardefythe breakdownintoeithergaymaleorlesbianor,forthatmatter,intosimple dichotomiesofgayandstraight.Theconnectionsbetweenlesbiansandgaymen uniteotherwinners.That,infact,isthethemeofNonfictionAnthologyaward winnerSisterandBrother,editedbyJoanNestleandJohnPreston131 Genre,anotherprosodomypublicationaimedatmen,alsogaveapositive review:ThelateJohnPrestonmadesomethingofaspecialtyofanthologies.His finaleffort,coeditedwithlesbianhistorianJoanNestle,isoriginalandan
SisterandBrother:LesbiansandGayMenWriteabouttheirLivesTogether,ed.ByJohnNestleand JohnPreston;NewYork:HarperCollins,1994,pp.56 129OUT,Dec/Jan1995,p.70 130LambdaBookReport,Nov/Dec1994,p.17 131NewYorkNative,71095,p.58
128
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absolutemustread.SisterandBrotheraddresssthroughpersonalanecdoteand memoirtheexperiencesthatbindgaymenandlesbianstogetherItisa revelationtoseehowmanygaymenandwomensharecomplexandabiding relationships.132 TheprosodomypublicationTheAdvocateisintriguedbyoneparticular gay/lesbiansexualaffairrecordedinthebookSisterBrother:Theseareas unpredictableastherangeofgaylesbianrelationships.BernardCoopersstory TruthSerumisaknockout.Aselectionfromhisforthcomingmemoirs(and winnerof1995sO.HenryAward),itportrayshislonglastingheterosexuallove affair,whichbeganintheheatofsexualpassionandthrivesyearslaterasa lifelongfriendship.AlthoughCooperbecomesapracticinghomosexual,his place,hetellsus,remainsforeverwithhisfriendBiaLowe.133 NotethatTheAdvocatehasnodifficultyapplyingboththeterms heterosexualandhomosexualtoBernardCooper.Theyunderstandand acceptthefluidityofsexualdesire.AnalyzingexcerptsfromBernardandBias essayswillshedfurtherlight. Biabegins,HowcanIexplaintomymotherHowcanItellher,without herthrillingtofalsehopes,that,havinglovedaman,havingmatedwithaman,I knowIcouldstill?Istillfindmenattractive,andIstillrecall,withsexual excitement,myescapadesintoheterosexualsex Bernard,Biassupposedlygayboyfriend,tellsusabouttherelationship fromhisperspective,Idbeenlivingwithawomanforthreeyears,awoman whomIloved,andwithwhomIhadasexlifebothplayfulandpleasurableIm notsureatwhichpointfriendshipturnedtoloveourrelationshipremained platonicfornearlyayearbutImsurewewouldhavehadsexmuchearlierif bothofushadntharboredlongingsforpeopleofthesamegenderWeconfided theseguiltyattractionslateonenightduringamarathonconversation.Oncethey wereaired,ouradmissionsseemedlessshameful,lesssignificant,andIbeganto feelthatsleepingwithBiawasinevitable;whobettertosleepwiththanthe keeperofyoursecrets?Besides,asasideeffectofourheateddiscussions,her translucentskinandhazeleyeshadbeguntoexciteme.134 Allthereviewersoftheleadingsodomymagazinesknewwellthe heterosexualcontentofthesupposedlyborngaymenandwomensstoriesin Prestonsbook,andtheyhadnoproblemswithsuchideas.Theborngay propagandistsalwaysdenytherealityandlegitimacyofheterosexualfeelingsin exgays.But,noticethatnooneintheprosodomycommunityquestionsthe
Genre,Nov.1994,p.72 TheAdvocate,11291994,p.75(emphasismine) 134SisterandBrother,p.137
132 133
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heterosexualdesiresofpeoplethatcontinuetodefinethemselvesasgay,that is,asbeinginthecircleofthegaypoliticalparty.Thesepropagandistsare hypocrites.Butworsethanthat,aspoliticalactivists,theyareshameless, calculating,pathologicalliars.Nomatterhowmanytimesprosodomy propagandistslie,however,socalledlesbiansandgayscananddochange theirsocalledsexualorientation. AftertherevelationsinthebookSisterBrother,whatprosodomyactivist NanGoldenwritesinTheAdvocateisnosurprise:Thingsaremorethree dimensionalandlesscompartmentalizedthantheyoncewere,shesaysMaybe thathastodowithgettingolderandunderstandingtheambivalenceofthings. AtthemomentImactuallydatingaman.AndIveknownpeoplewhowere activeinACTUPandwereverydefinedaslesbianorgaybutwhoweresecretly sleepingtogether.Ithinkpeoplearemorecomplicatedthanthosecategories. BeinggaytomeisntjustwhoIsleepwith,itshowIlivemylife.135 CanyouimaginetheseradicalACTUPactivists,anorganizationfounded in1987byLarryKramer,aknownpederast,136atdemonstrationsscreaming, Werehere,werequeer,getusedtoit!andthengoinghometotheir heterosexualrelationshipshomosexualmenhavingaffairswiththeirsocalled queerorlesbianlovers.Whatirony.Whatdishonesty! OUTmagazinetellsthestoryofoneACTUPqueermanwhofellinlove withastraightwoman.Theheadlineonthefrontcovermakesthe announcement: HOWQUEER,SHESSTRIAGHT,HESGAY,THEYRETOGETHER Theinsidetitleofthearticleonpage51isshockingaswell: HEKISSEDAGIRL;HOWAJOURNEYTHROUGHTHEHEYDAYOFGAY IDENTITYPOLITICSLEDTOASTRAIGHTROMANCE137 OUTmagazineprovidesotherinterestinginformationonprosodomy authorSaraMiles.SARAMILES,anOUTcontributingwriter,shedsnewlight onsexualitythismonthbyexploringthecomplexrelationshipbetweenagay manandhisgirlfriend.Iknewalotofwomenwhohadbeenlesbiansandthen gotinvolvedwithmen,saysMiles,butIdidntknowanygaymeninvolved
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withwomen.Thismansstoryisfascinating138OUTrecountsthestartling storyofBroandLisa: WilliamsBroBrobergfirstvisitedNewYorkCityinthosedays,asatall, gangly21yearoldwithadesiretoputtheworldright.Browasbornin Carrolton,Kentucky,toa16yearoldmotheranda17yearoldfather,andhe spentaworkingclasschildhoodmovingbackandforthbetweenthemandhis grandparents.Bythetimehewas12,Brodecidedhewasgay;by16,hewas drivingatnightforhundredsofmilesthroughKentucky,Ohio,andIndiana, seekingoutbarsrumoredtobequeer.Iknewsomethingelsewasoutthere,he says,andmystrategywasjusttogetthroughhighschoolasquicklyaspossible soIcouldfindit. AtAntiochCollegeinOhio,Brofoundhisfirstclosegayfriends.He translatedhisrestlessnessandpassionintopoliticalmeaning,cameouttohis parents,andstartedtolookbeyondtheperimetersofhisownlife.Inawork studysemesterinwhichstudentsdesigneddirectserviceprogramsforpeople withAIDS,Brobecameradicalized In1990,BrodroppedoutofAntiochandmovedtoManhattantobecome partofaradicalgaycommunity.ACTUP,wheredecisionsweremadeby consensusandtherewerenoformalleaders,wasaperfectplaceforhimtojump in.Asitturnedout,Broknewhowtoplan,mobilize,andexecute;hefounda callinginthestrategicchallengesoforganizing.Browasbestatthequickand dirty,saysEstherKaplan,anearlyACTUPactivistandnoweditoratPOZ magazine.Hehadaconspiratorialmindandalotofcreativeenergy.139 POZisamagazinedirectedmainlyatmenwhohavesexwithmen,who areHIVpositive.AccordingtothismagazineBrofoundaloveratACTUP,but therewasonlyoneproblemshewasawoman. AtanACTUPmeeting,BrometphotographerCharlieWelch.Hewas talented,cute,andsmart,andwemovedintogetherwithinamonth,saysBro. Weweretogetheraboutthreeyears. TheirrelationshipbecamehardertomaintainasBrobranchedoutfrom ACTUP.Hewasworkingasmanyas20hoursadayonthecampaigntofree HIVpositiveHaitiansatGuantanamoBrocamehomeonenightandfound Charliestrangelycalm.Idmissedsomepartywithourfriendsforthe gazillionthtime,Brosays.Charliejustsaid,Look,itstimeforustobreakup.I didntwanttoadmitit,butIknewitwastrue.
138 139
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By1993,BrohadmovedintoatinysubletonAvenueC,andalawyer hedmetontheGuantanamocasehadbecomehisinseparablecompanion.The twowouldtalkendlessly,leaningincloseovertoastandeggsatagrimydiner. TheydridethesweatylocaltrainstoBrooklynforameeting,exhausted, embracing,onerestingaheadontheothersshoulder.Theydstayupdiscussing theirorganizingstrategyuntiltheclubsclosedat4a.m.,fallasleeptogetheron thebedinBrosroom,thengetupagaintowheatpasteatdawn,alongthe slowlybrighteningstreets. Theywerelivingandbreathingfortheirrelationship,saysKaplan.It wastheintensepoliticalcomradeship,plusanevenmoreintenseemotional connection.ItwasalateNovemberafternoonin1993whenBrostumbledout ofaTribecarestauranttothecurbwherethelawyerwassitting,headinhands, afteradevastating,uglyargument.Broreachedout.Hestartedtocry.Inavoice breakingwithdesireandgrief,hedsaidwhathedbeentryingtosayforsolong. Ifyouwereaman,BrotoldLisaDaugaard,Idbewithyoufortherestofmy life. Theloverstellthestorynow,sittingnexttoeachotherinacomfortable boothatacafinSeattlesgayneighborhood.Theyhavebeentogetherforfive years.BroisfinishinglawschoolatCornell,wherehewaspresidentofthe LAMBDALawStudentsassociation,whileLisaworksintheSeattlepublic defendersoffice,representinghomelessandindigentclients. Gaymenandlesbianshavealwayshadtowrestlewiththequestionof whomweloveandhowwiththeanswer,foralotofus,definingouridentities. Formany,ithasbeenpossibletofinessethelinebetweenpreferenceand orientationThatstorybecamemoredifficulttomanageafterlastyearsmedia blitzwhenexgaysAnnandJohnPaulkannouncedtheirconversiontobeliefin ChristianmarriageManygays,tryingtodefendourchoicesofwhomwelove, weretemptedtodrawthelinesmorestrictlybetweenstraightandgay:Genuine gaysandlesbiansneverlookedback,neverfeltanyattractiontotheoppositesex, andneverlivedwithuncertainty. Well,isntthatconvenientforeveryone?saysBro.Theresjustthis binarystraightandgay.Whatdowethinkwellloseifweadmitlifeis complex?140 So,theviciousattacksbythesocalledgaycommunityonexgaysand onprofamilygroupswhoacknowledgethatchangeispossibleinsexualitywas areactionofdenialagainstthetruthpeoplecanchange,andgaysknowthat, butfearit.WhatanadmissionbyactivistslikeBroandSaraMiles!Bro describeshisowninternalconflictinthisprocessofnewlylovingawoman.
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Brosconfessionoflovethatnightonthecurbmadetherealityoftheir feelingsunavoidable,saysLisa.Butitwashugelypainful.Bronods.Wefellin love,heagrees.Buttherewasthishugethingtonegotiate,i.e.,thatImgay.It wasalongprocess.Iddenytheattraction,gototheedgeofit,peakover,and runbacktheotherway. Thefirstkissisatthecenterofmostromanticnarratives,butthemoment whenBroandLisasactualsexualrelationshipbeganisfairlymundane, overshadowedbyallthepoliticalandemotionaldramathatprecededit.Ithink wewereatherparentshouseonenight,saysBro,andweweresleepingonthis foldoutbed,andIgaveherakiss,andthenwekeptgoing Brolightsanothercigarette,rememberinghowhefirstbegantotellhisnew friendsabouthisnewlover.Iusedtogetangryifpeoplesaidtheywere bisexual.NowIhadtotellpeoplethat,yes,Iwasgay,andyes,Iwasinlovewith agirl.141 Kaplansaysshewasntsurprised.Therewasalotofthishappeningamong ourcircle,shesays.Womenstartedseeingmen;otherpeople,includingme, cameoutasbisexual.Anditwasthreatening:Ifweweredefecting,whodbeleft tobegayanymore?142 AnotherACTUPactivist,JuanM.Mendez(whohasalsobeenajournalist fortheSpanishlanguagenewspapersElDiarioandLaPrensa),recallshearing aboutBroschanges:Mendezremembersthespringafternoonwhenheheard Brosnews.Wewereonthebusgoinguptown,hesays,andIwastellingBro howdisappointedIwasthatalesbianfriendofoursfromACTUPwasgetting marriedtoaman.Iwastalkingveryintimatelyabouthowitfelttometohave ourwholeEastVillagequeerfamilybreakingup.Mendezpauses.AndthenBro lookedatmeandsaidthathewasseeingLisa.143Theinterviewends poignantly. Lisaspeaks.Look,shesays,lifeisshort,andloveisrare.Brotakesher hand.Theworldiscomplicated,Brosays.Itjustseemslikeaverybadideato sellouttruelovebecauseyoudontideologicallyunderstandhowyoucanbe feelingit.144 JanClausen,inanearlierwork(BeyondGayorStraight),speakstothe complexitiesofhumansexualdesires.JimVanBuskirk,whohasbeenthehead oftheprosodomyHormelLibrary,explainsClausensviews:JanClausen attemptsthenearlyimpossiblebytryingtodemystifythecomplexitiesofhuman
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sexuality.Shebeginsherexplorationswiththreebasicquestions:Issexual orientationaninborntrait,ordoesitsomehowdevelopintheunfoldingof personality?Isitanunchangingcharacteristic,oronethatisliabletoshiftover time?Isitpresentinallcultures,eventhosethatappeartoorganizesexuality quitedifferentfromthewaywedo,orisitsimplythewayinwhichcertain societies(especiallyWestern,urbanizedones)currentlythinkaboutpersonal sexualidentity?145 Clausenendswiththesamequestionswithwhichshebegan,thistime allowingherpersonalperspective.Advocatingsensitivitytothediversityof sexuality,Clausensuggeststhatinadditiontobiologicalresearch,researchers needtopayfarmoreattentiontothepsychology,sociology,andanthropologyof gay,lesbian,bisexual,andheterosexualidentities.QuotingGloriaAndalzuas poeticformulationIdentityisaRiversheremainsunswayedbythepossibility thatadmittingtheflexibilityofsexualorientationmaygiveammunitionto bigots.Finally,sheremindsreadersthatmostcultureshavenotsharedthe modernEuroAmericansexualsysteminwhichpeoplearedividedintodistinct typesbasedonthegenderoftheirpreferredsexualpartners.Clausenhas knowinglyenteredintodangerousemotionallychargedwaters146 Indeed,prosodomypropagandistsarestronglyfearfulofthepublic expressionofsuchsentiments.However,aswehaveseen,mentioningthisfactin privateprosodomycontextsisacceptable;thistruthoffluidsexuality cannotbedenied. Frontiersmagazinehasexploredthenotionofchangeablesexualitythrough adialoguebetweensocalledgaymenandlesbians.Onewomanevaluates thiscontemporaryissue:Infact,oneofthemostcuttingedgeissuesinthegay scenetodayisthatsomegaymenandlesbiansareactuallyhavingsexwitheach other.Whatisthat?Iheardaboutthisfromafriendofminewhowenttoa workshoponthesubjectatoneoftheCreatingChangeconferences.Talkabout change!147 Ialsoknowpeoplewhohaveexperimentedwiththeirbestfriends.These peopleareapparentlyfindingthemselvescuriousandattractedandplayingwith eachothertoseewhattheyremissing.Icanunderstand;Imean,curiositymade metryoutallthoseguysinmyyouth.Whoelsecouldhealthepainbetween menandwomenbetterthanusqueers?Wehaveveryfewsocietalmodelsand thereforelesspressuretoconform.Wouldntthatbesomethingifenoughofus
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gotturnedontotheoppositesexandblewthemainstreamawaybyshowing themhowtoloveeachotherequally?...148 Onepsychiatristwithsamesexattractionstellshowheandsomeofhis clientshavecometotermswithsexualactivitybetweensocalledgaymenand lesbians.ManyofmyclientsaregoingthroughasecondcomingoutLorna, a41yearoldAfricanAmericanclient,cametoseemebecauseshehadbeenout asalesbianforalmostadecade,butnowshewashavingasexualrelationship withagayfriend.Notaninloverelationship,shetoldme.Wejustliketofool around.Herfriendswerescandalized.Lornawasnotcomingoutasbisexual, accordingtoherowndefinition.Shestillconsideredherselfalesbianshe neededstrategiesforfiguringoutwherehercommunitymightbenowthatshe wasfacingrejectionbylesbianssheneededtimetotalkthroughherpainat havingtoexperienceitinthegaylesbiancommunity,aplaceshehadfoughtto makeherhome.149 Twopageslatertheauthorcontinues,Backinthe60sand70s,comingout meantmakingabreakfromheterosexuality.Butinthelate1990s,wearenow witnessingabreakfromgaynessandlesbianism.ManylesbiansIknowtalk aboutlesbiantherapistJoAnneLoulan,authorofLesbianSexandLesbianPassion, whoayearagowentontheOprahShowandrevealedthathernewpartnerisa man.TheirconfusionanddiscomfortwithLoulanandotherlesbiansseeming defectionisnotsurprising.WhatdowemakeofpeoplelikeLorna,whowantto belesbianswhosleepwithmen?Howdoweunderstandthemanygaymenwho havebeenoutforyearsandthendecidetomarrywomen?Thenewwaveof comingoutalmostlookslikeagoingbackin.Agrowingnumberofgaymenand lesbiansaremarryingoneanother.Itsasifwereseeingachallengetotheold, modernistwayofthinking:ThisiswhoIam,period,andamovementtowarda postmodernversion,ThisiswhoIamrightnow.150 Diva,aBritishprosodomymagazinedirectedatwomancontainedalong articleonthisphenomenoninitsJune,1996issue.ThearticlewasentitledALLIN THEFAMILY?andcarriedthebyline,Whatdoyoucallalesbianwhosleeps withmen?Straight?Bisexual?Lesbian?Hasbian?GillianRodgersonexamines thecomplicatedbusinessofsexualliaisons.151 Aslongagoas1983,PatCalifiawroteacoverpieceforTheAdvocate aboutasubjectthat,atthetime,mostlesbiansIknewdismissedasjustanother weirdU.S.fad:gaymenandgaywomenhavingsextogether.OnlyinSan
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Francisco,wethought,figuringthatifyoureallywanttobeapervert,youll breakanytaboojusttostayonthewildside.ButwhenqueerpoliticshitBritain inabigwayintheearlynineties,lotsofpreviouslywatertightcategoriesbegan tooozeandthemindbendingbusinessofutopianpansexualityopeneduplike someglitteringPandorasBox.Rumorshavealwayscirculatedthatthisorthat wellknownqueerdykewasreallysleepingwiththisorthatwellknownqueer gaymanontheside.152 Notethataslongagoas1983,acoverarticleinTheAdvocatewaswritten onsexbetweensocalledgaymenandlesbianwoman.Thisisnotanew phenomenon.Ithasbeendiscussedopenlyinthesocalledgaycommunityas longastherehasbeenagaycommunity,whichisnotverylonginfact,atall. Noticealsotheuseofthewordhasbian.Thisfactofsexualchangeisso commonandsowellknownthatitisdiscussedworldwideandthereare nicknamestorefertodefectors. Divamagazinecontinuesthestories:Nevertheless,somewomenwhose previoussexualattachmentsfocusedonotherwomenarenowtalkingabout theiractivitieswithmen,bothasisolatedexperiencesandasmorelongterm relationships.CathfromManchesterremembersbeingterriblyembarrassedto beseeninpublicholdingamanshandSheexplainstheconfusionshefeltat thattime.WhenImetmygirlfriendat21,Idefinedmyselfcompletelyasa lesbian,butwhenshewentoffwithsomeoneelseImetthismanblokeand foundmyselffallingforhim,totallyoutoftheblue.Iusedtothinkthisis ridiculous,Imalesbian!153 TheexperienceofLucyScher,aclubpromoterinManchester,wasless accidentalandmorethoroughthanCaths.Shesayssheknowsthesceneand sayshundredsofwomenwhopreviouslydefinedthemselvesasdykesarenow experimentingwithsexwithmen.Shedoesntidentifyasalesbian,preferring thetermqueer,butherboyfriendstillthinksofhimselfasgay.Theybothleft samesexpartnerswhentheygottogether,thoughLucyhadhadotherrecent experienceswithmen.Whenapowerfulbusinessmanmadeapassatherone night,knowingshewasalesbian,sheacceptedit.Iftheressomeoneyou shouldntsleepwith,Ido,shesays,notespeciallyruefullytheexperience splitmeandmygirlfriendandgotmeinterestedinboysagain SowhatsthedifferencebetweenLucyandherboyfriendandanyother straightcoupletreadingthestreetsofManchesterholdinghands?Ivewalked downthestreetholdinghands,thinkingMyGod,ImnormalHeterosexuals neverhavethosethoughts,becausetheyveneverexperiencedanythingelse.
152 153
Diva,June1996,p.43 Diva,June1996,p.4344
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LisaPower,alongtimelesbianactivistwhohappilyadmitstoasexual affairwithagaymalefriend,saysshestillabsolutelyidentifiesherselfasadyke anddoesntbelieveherexperienceisallthatunique.Itsgreattobetedious tellingthetruthaboutlesbianshavingsexwithmen,shenotes,sayingitsthe onlypieceofgossipanyonerelaysaboutheranymore.Ithoughtgayliberation wasaboutgettingpeopletobelessfreakedoutaboutwhoyousleptwith,she says.154 RobinGorna,oftheBritishorganizationTerrenceTerranceHiggins Trust,wrotethebook,Vamps,VirginsandVictims:HowWomenCanFightAIDS. Sheopenlycitesstatistics,obtainedatLondonsAudreLordeClinicwhich, revealedthat35percentofthelesbianclientshadhadsexwithmeninthelast sixmonths. In1995,aNewsweekcoverstoryreportedonasurveyconductedbyself identifiedlesbianPaulaRust,whofoundthattwothirdsofwomenwhoself identifiedaslesbian,alsosaidthattheywerecurrentlyattractedtomen,and90 percentofthemhadbeeninasexualrelationshipswithaman.155 Peeringdeeperintothesecondsecretclosetofthelesbiancommunity, wefindstudiesrevealingthatsupposedlyexclusivelylesbianwomenwill,on average,havemoremalesexpartnersthroughouttheirlifetimethanallother womanwill.Infact,astudyappearinginTheWashingtonBladeshowedthatthe averageselfdescribedlesbian,willhavedoublethenumberoflifetimemale sexpartnersthanallotherwomenwill.156 PerhapsitwassuchfactsthatcausedtheBritishprosodomymovement magazineRougetoconcurwiththechoiceidea:Greensanalysisof homosexualityrejectstheviewthatitisinbornouronlypointofagreement 157 PerhapsitwassuchfactsthatcausedTheAdvocatetoreport(aftera1997 volunteerpollofitsreaders)that54percentofitsownrespondentsdidnot believeinafixedsexualorientation.158Perhapsitwassuchfactsthatcausedself definedlesbianauthorRebeccaWalker,daughteroftheselfdefinedbisexual authorAliceWalker,whowroteTheColorPurple,towrite,Idomybesttohelp peopleunderstandthatsexualitydoesnthavemuchtodowithprescribed notionsofgenderButthatgetsbacktothequestionofWhatisalesbian?
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Girlfriends,MayJune,1996,pg.21 Girlfriends,MayJune,1996,pg.23
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12 HypocrisyandChange
LesbianAvengersisaradicaldirectactionpoliticalorganization foundedbyformerACTUPactivistSarahSchulman.161Twoincidentsinvolving theLesbianAvengersrevealtheinsecurityofitsmembersinregardtotheir supposedlyfixedsexualorientation.Inanarticleentitled,APLAGUEON YOU!Deneuvemagazinedocumentsoneincident: Locustswerentavailable,sotheysettledforcrickets.TheSanFrancisco LesbianAvengersrecentlyunleashedagoodolfashionedplagueonExodus International,anumbrellaagencyforgroupsthataimtotransformhomosexuals intoheterosexuals.TheAvengersreleasedapproximatelyathousandcricketsinto theBayAreaofficeofExodus.162 Ironically,thisquote,printedinDeneuvemagazine,whichaimsto humiliateExodusInternationalsimplyforofferinghelptomenandwomen strugglingwithsamesexattractions,includesareviewofthebook,Sisterand Brotherjusttwopagesbefore,abookwhichaswehaveseenprovidestruestories ofrelationships,evensexualones,betweensocalledlesbianwomenandgay men.LetusreviewtwoofthismagazinescommentsonSisterandBrotherand observethetwistedhypocrisyofitswritersandeditors: 1.Thesedaysitsnotuncommonfordykesandfagstocloseenjoy friendshipswithoneanother,live,playandworktogether,orevensleep together.163 2.Anoldfamilysecrettheexistenceofasexualcomponentinqueer girlboyfriendshipsisafeatureofseveralpieces164 Iftheprosodomycommunityunderstandsthefluidnatureofsamesex attraction,whywouldtheLesbianAvengersbrakeintoanofficeofExodus Internationalandreleasecricketssimplybecausetheyofferhelptopersons seekingchange?Itseemsasthoughtheonlyrationalexplanationisthatthey
MyAmericanHistory,bySarahSchulman,pp.xvii,xix,279ff;thisbookwasafinalistforagay LambdaLiteraryAwardin1995.(LambdaBookReport,May/June1995,p.13) 162Deneuve,alesbianmagazinenowcalledCurve,(Deneuve,May/June,1995,p.14 163Deneuve,May/June,1995,p.12 164Deneuve,May/June,1995,p.13
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wereengagedinacampaignofhateandintimidationagainstExodusforfailing toreaffirmtheactivistssexualbehavior.Divamagazinewritesaboutasecond andequallyhypocriticalincidentinvolvingtheLesbianAvengers,thistimeon theothersideoftheAtlantic. ABritishchapteroftheLesbianAvengersdisruptedameetingofpro familygroups,whichrefusetorecognizethenormalcyofhomosexualityand whoacknowledgethatgayscanchange.LesbianAvenger,AlexisHarvey, describestheconfrontation,LesbianAvengersburstinshoutingAvengethe hate,avengethehomophobiawhiletheconferencegoerssattherestunnedand anAvengerwaspushedtotheground.165 Again,whywouldtheLesbianAvengersdothesethingsiftheyknowand admitthatchangeispossible?EventheLesbianAvengersfounder,Sarah Schulman,believesthatSSAischangeableandthatsodomyisachoice.Justread thestatementshemakesonpage26ofherbook,MyAmericanHistory: Wefearthatunlessprogressivemovementscanchallengecompulsory heterosexualityandrecognizelesbianismasapositivechoiceforwomenour issueswillberenderedsecondary. SarahSchulmanclearlystatesthatlesbianismisachoice,andsheisclearly hatefultowardprofamilygroups,notbecausetheybelievethatsexual preferencesarefluid,butbecausetheyareopenaboutthefactthatsexual preferencesarefluid,andbecausetheydonotaffirmSchulmanssexual behavior,duetotheirknowledgeofthemoral,mental,physical,andsocial consequencesassociatedwithit. Asevidencedbytheexamplesinthischapterthereareseriousquestions anddoubtsbeingopenlyraisedevenbyprosodomyleadersaboutsexual orientation;ACTUPisahotbedofheterosexualactivities;otherfamousso calledgaysandlesbianshavebeeninvolvedinheterosexualrelationships andoneoftheLesbianAvengersfounders,SarahSchulmanevenviews lesbiansexualityasachoice. Withthisuncertaintyabouttheirownidentity,itmustbepsychologically intolerableforsocalledlesbiansandgayswhensuchchangeconceptsare carriedtotheirlogicalconclusionbygroupslikeExodusInternational.Exodus andothergroupsopenlyfacilitatethechangesinsexualpreferencerecognized privatelyasvalidbytheprosodomycommunity.Plaguedbyselfdoubts,
165
Diva,Feb/Mar1995,p.16
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lesbianandgayinsecurityexplodesintofasciststyleattacksongroupswho wouldmakepublic,whattheprosodomycommunitytalksaboutonlyin private. EricPollardisaformermemberofthehomosexualorganizationACTUP. Ericcriticizesprosodomyactivistsfortheirtechniques.HecallsACTUPatruly fascistorganization.Hesaysthattheirdisruptivetechniqueshaveanominous sourcetheywere,subversivetactics,drawnlargelyfromthevoluminousMein Kampf,whichsomeofusstudiedasaworkingmodel.166MeinKampfis,of course,AdolfHitlersbookonfascistideasandstrategy. SchulmanlearnedherfascistlessonswellfromACTUP.Lesbian Avengersfollowsitsparentgroup,ACTUP,whosephilosophyandtechniques arefascist,theirobjectiveistosuppressdissentandtheirmotivationisthe desperationofdenial,asprosodomyactivistRandyShiltshassoaptlyputit, thedesperationofdenial:howwhensomethingissohorribleyoudontwant tobelieveit,youwanttooutitoutofyourmindandinsistitisnttrue,andhow youhatethepersonwhosaysitis.167Desperatedenial;thisseemstobewhat drivestheprosodomymovementsdeceit,psychologicalmanipulation,and intimidationofscientificgroupsandotherapposingmembersofsociety. WayneBesen,formerlyoftheHumanRightsCampaign,aprosodomy politicalorganization,displayshisexplosiveandfascistdenialwhendenounces anytherapistororganizationthatdareshelppersonsseekingtochangetheir ownsexualpreferenceasmiserymongers,whenhestates: Theytakepeoplewithextremelylowselfesteemandmakethemfeel evenworseaboutthemselvesTheamountofconflict,turmoil,sufferingand humanmiserythesegroupscausepeopleisastounding[Q]uitsimply,exgays dontexist.168 Waynescommentsechowhatwehaveheardtimeandtimeagainfrom theprosodomypoliticalcommunity,butcantheybetrusted?Andcoulditbe truethatWayneBesenhasneverheardofasinglepersoneverchangingtheirso calledsexualorientation,soastoqualifyhisstatement?Wayneworkedforthe HumanRightsCampaign,oneoftheleadingprosodomyactivist organizationsinAmerica.ForhimnottohaveheardofAnneHeche,orGreg Louganis,orBroBroberg,orBia,orfilmmakersGreggAraki,ElainHollman,
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MariaMaggenti,orlesbianliteraryawardwinningauthorsJoanneLoulan,and JanClausen,oreventheawardwinningbookSisterBrother,wouldbevirtually impossible.Theseareallwellknownmembersofthesocalledgay community,memberswhowereverydefinedaseithergayorlesbian,andin mostcasesformanyyears,yetallchangedtheirsocalledsexualorientation.It seemsthatitwouldbeimpossibleforWayneBesentobeunawareofthese wellknowncases.Inalllikelihood,themanisacalculatingandmanipulative liar.Besenisnttheonlyliar. Prosodomypoliticalorganizationsnationwidehavepromulgatedequally offensivelies.OnesuchprosodomypoliticalorganizationisTheNational OrganizationofSocialWorkers(NASW).InitsPolicyStatementonLesbian, GayandBisexualIssues,itstates: Socialstigmatizationoflesbian,gay,andbisexualpeopleiswidespread andisaprimarymotivatingfactorinleadingsomepeopletoseeksexual orientationchanges.Nodatademonstratethatreparativeorconversion therapiesareeffective,andinfacttheymaybeharmful.NASWdiscourages socialworkersfromprovidingtreatmentsdesignedtochangesexualorientation orfromreferringpractitionersorprogramsthatclaimtodoso.169 ThisNEAresolutioncouldnotbefurtherfromthetruth.Inthewordsof Dr.StantonJones,theprovostandformerchairofthepsychologydepartmentat WheatonCollege,anyonewhosaysthereisnohope[forchange]iseither ignorantoraliar.170 CamillePaglia,averyprominentlesbianauthoragrees,Gayactivistsare guiltyofStalinistdisinformationwhentheyassertthathomosexualityisno differentthanandequivalenttoheterosexuality...isthegayidentitysofragile thatitcannotbearthethoughtthatsomepeoplemaynotwishtobegay?171 Dr.RobertSpitzer,oneoftheverypsychologistswholedthemovementto havehomosexualityremovedfromtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationslist ofPsychologicalDisordersin1973,acknowledgedthisaswellinhis1973 PositionPaperonNomenclaturewhenhewrotethatModernmethodsof treatmentenableasignificantnumberofhomosexualswhowishtochangetheir sexualorientationtodoso.In1991,Dr.Spitzerfoundsimilarresultswhenhe studied153menand47womenwhoreportedsuccessfulcounselingfor unwantedsexualattractionsandmaintainedachangeinbehaviorandfantasies
(emphasisours)Lesbian,GayandBisexualIssues,SocialWorkSpeaks,Jan.1st2003,p.230) StantonJones,TheLovingOpposition,ChristianityToday,JULY19,1993,p.25 171(CamillePaglia,VampsandTramps(NewYork:VintageBooks,1994),pp.71,77.)
169 170
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for5years,76%ofthemenand47%ofthewomeneventuallymarried.172Spitzer reconfirmedhispositiononceagainin2001inapresentationmadeinfrontofthe AmericanPsychiatricAssociationentitled200SubjectsWhoClaimtoHave ChangedTheirSexualOrientationfromHomosexualtoHeterosexual. ThedirectoroftheNewYorkCenterforPsychoanalyticTraining,Dr. ReubenFineunderstandsthatgaysandlesbianschangetheirsexual preferences.Infact,hewasattackedbackinthemid1970sforadvocatingthis truth.Hestates,Ihaverecentlyhadoccasiontoreviewtheresultsof psychotherapywithhomosexuals,andbeensurprisedbythefindings,itis paradoxicalthateventhoughthepoliticallyactivehomosexualgroupdeniesthe possibilityofchange,allstudies,fromSchrenckNotzingandon,havefound positiveeffects,virtuallyregardlessofthekindoftreatmentused....173 Inanotherinterview,Dr.Finesoundsabitmoretroubledovertheeffect prosodomypoliticshavehadonpeoplewithsamesexattraction.He demonstrateshisconcernwhenhestates,...Whetherwithhypnosis..., psychoanalysisofanyvariety,educativepsychotherapy,behaviortherapy, and/orsimpleeducationalprocedures,aconsiderablepercentageofovert homosexualsbecameheterosexual...Ifthepatientsweremotivated,whatever procedureisadopted,alargepercentagewillgiveuptheirhomosexuality.Inthis connection,publiceducationisofgreatestimportance.Themisinformation spreadbycertaincirclesthathomosexualityisuntreatablebypsychotherapy doesincalculableharmtothousandsofmenandwomen.174 Dr.EdmundBerglerdiscussestheeffectsoftheborngayhoaxon peoplesmotivationstochangetheirbehaviorwhenhewritesinhisbook Homosexuality:DiseaseorWayofLife,Thehomosexualsrealenemyis...his ignoranceofthepossibilitythathecanbehelped,plushispsychicmasochism whichleadshimtoshuntreatment.175 InanarticleappearingintheAmericanHandbookofPsychiatryDr.Socarides echoestheconcernsofDr.FineandBerglerwhenhewrites,Themajor challengeintreatinghomosexuality,fromthepointofviewofthepatients resistance,has,ofcourse,beenthemisconceptionthatthedisorderisinnateor inborn.176
Nicolosi,J.,ReparativeTherapyoftheMaleHomosexual.(Northvale,N.J.:Aronson,1991) [R.Fine(1987)PsychologicalTheory,MaleandFemaleHomosexuality:Psychological Approaches,p.84,DiamantL,ed.,HemispherePublishing:Washington,D.C] 174(RubenFine,PsychoanalyticTheory,inmaleandfemalehomosexuality:Psychological Approaches,ed.LouisDiamante(NewYork:Hemisphere1987),pp.8486.) 175EdmundBergler(1962)Homosexuality:DiseaseorWayofLife?,p.67,Collier:NewYork 176CharlesW.Socarides(1974)Homosexuality,AmericanHandbookofPsychiatry,2ndEdition, Volume3,ArietiS.,BrodyE.B.,eds.,p.309,BasicBooks:NewYork
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Dr.RobertKronemeyerwritesinhisbook,OvercomingHomosexualitythat, Frommy25yearsexperienceasaclinicalpsychologist,Ifirmlybelievethat homosexualityisalearnedresponsetoearlypainfulexperiencesandthatitcan beunlearned.Forthosehomosexualswhoareunhappywiththeirlifeandfind effectivetherapy,itiscurable.177 Dr.Nicolosi,anotherresearcherinthisareahasstated,Theassumption thatpeoplecantchangeisapoliticalconclusionratherthanascientificone.178 Theforegoingremarksclearlydemonstratethatforatleastthreedecades competentmentalhealthprofessionalshavesuggestedthatthefalsenotionthat samesexattractionandsodomycannotbeovercomeisamajorstumblingblock tosexualrecovery.Further,wehavenowseeninnumerousprosodomysources thatsocalledlesbiansandgaymencanalsobeattractedtotheoppositesex. Sometimesthesesexual/romanticattractionsareeventowardotherprosodomy activistsoftheoppositesex.Borngaypropagandiststellusthatthis phenomenonisimpossible,butithappensandiswelldocumented.Further, whilethousandsofarticlesexistrelatingtothedevelopmentandtreatmentof samesexattraction,thereisnobiologicalevidenceshowingthatsamesex attractionisinnate.Futuredecisionsregardingpoliciesabout,and/ortreatment of,personsstrugglingwithsamesexattractionshouldreflectthisknowledge. (Inclosing,BritishlesbiansLynneHarneandElaineMillerreflectthe thesisofthisentirebookperfectlyinaLAMBDABookReport,Insistingthat sexualdesireandpleasurearesociallyconstructed,thesewomenwholayclaim toradicallesbianfeminismleavelittleroomfordebateinthenaturenurture debate.Theresnothingnaturalinlesbianism,itsapositivechoice,anda politicalone.179)
[R.Kronemeyer(1980)OvercomingHomosexuality,p.7,MacmillanPublishing:NewYork] Nicolosi,J.,ReparativeTherapyoftheMaleHomosexual.(Northvale,N.J.:Aronson,1991 179LambdaBookReport,Oct.1996,p.11,CommentingonAlltheRage:ReassertingRadicalLesbian Feminism
177 178
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13
IntimidatingReparativeTherapists
Ifeelthattheentirehomophilemovementisgoingtostandorfalluponthequestionof whetherornothomosexualityisasickness (FranklinKameny,ProSodomyActivist) Inthelate1960s,anumberofprosodomyactivistsbegantopressurethe AmericanPsychiatricAssociationandtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationto banthetreatmentofSSAandsodomy,claimingthattreatmentwouldleadto innerconflict,turmoil,suffering,andhumanmisery.Butaswehaveseen,not onlyaretheseclaimsfalse,theyarecalculatedliesdesignedtoaccomplishvery specificpoliticalgoals.RememberprosodomyactivistFranklinKamenys words,Ifeelthattheentirehomophilemovementisgoingtostandorfall uponthequestionofwhetherornothomosexualityisasickness180Onegoal then,ofprosodomyactivistsistheremovalofHomosexualityasa psychologicaldisorder,andanothermustbethesocialacceptanceofanon reparativegayidentity. Standinginoppositiontobothofthesegoalshowever,isasuccessful reparativetherapyindustry.Sincetheveryexistenceofreparativetherapy impliesapreviousdegenerativestate,andsincechangeisthenegationofthe permanent,itfollowsthatinorderforprosodomyactiviststolegitimizetheir claimthathomosexualityisnotasickness;theymustdelegitimizereparative therapy.Usingathreeprongedstrategyofintimidation,insideconnections,and pseudoscience,thisisexactlywhattheyhavetriedtodo. Beginningintheearly1990sforexample,ShannonMinter,anattorneyfor theNationalCenterforLesbianRights,launchedacampaignofintimidation whenshebegantospearheadlegalattacksontherapistsofferingassistanceto personsstrugglingwithsamesexattraction.A1993articleappearinginthepro sodomymagazineTheAdvocateexplains: Herplanofattackoverthenexttwoyearsincludesbringinglawsuits againstinstitutionsthathavebeenaccusedofforcingreparativetherapyon adolescents,pushingtheAPAtotakeahardlinestandagainstreparative therapy,andlobbyingtoimplementdueprocessrightsforminors.Shealso intendstodrawasmuchpublicattentionasshecantotheabusesshefeelsare
180
TheGayCrusaders,p.98
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beingperpetratedagainstgayandlesbianteensinhopesoffuelinganallout publicwaragainstthementalhealthindustry. Whatneedstohappeniswhathappenedin1973,saysMinter,referring tothewidespreadprotestsbythegaylesbiancommunitythatledtotheAPAs droppinghomosexualityfromtheDSM.Wewonareallyimportantvictory,but theresistanceisstillthere.Wehavealongwaytogo.181 MinterswordsareclearandherclaimthattheAPAoughttotakea hardlinestanceagainstreparativetherapyimpliesapersonalbeliefthat changeisnearlyimpossibleandthattherapistswhofacilitatechangecauseonly harm.ButareMintersconcernsgenuine?LetuscontrastShannonMinters strongpublicstatementsandlitigatingmotiveswithherpersonalexperiences andseeifadeeperrealityofhypocrisydoesntsurface. ShannonMinterwasanattorneyfortheNationalCenterforLesbian Rightsatthetimeshemadetheaforementionedstatement,anorganization whichpressurestheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationtoabandonreparative therapy.Mintersboss,KateKendall,wasthedirectorofthisorganization. Hypocritically,whileShannonMinterandKateKendallwerepubliclyworking togethertohavereparativetherapydenouncedbytheAPA,KateKendallwas simultaneouslywritingarticlesforspecializedprosodomymagazinesarguing thatsexualorientationisfluid,notfixed.182 Kendallwrites,Wehavemuchtolosefromgayscienceifwefailto acknowledgethatoursexualorientationisamixoffactors,partemotional,part physical,partvalues,partphilosophical,partpolitics,andperhapspartnature.It ispreciselythecomplexityofsexualorientationthatcreatesthereal homophobesthosesohostiletousbecauseoffearsabouttheirownpassingor notsopassingattractions.Andtheideathatsexualorientationisfixedfrom birthisunconvincingpreciselybecausesomanyofusgay,lesbian,bi,straight haveatsomepointfeltourownsexualitywaslessthanfixed.183 IfthisadmissionthatthegayidentityisfluidbythedirectorofMinters organizationisnotenough,theFebruary18,1997editionofTheAdvocate reportedthatJoAnneLoulan,whosatontheboardofdirectorsofthe organization,actuallychangedherownsupposedlypermanentsexual orientationwhenshefellinlovewithaman. Giventhesedetails,isitpossiblethatShannonMinterreallybelievedwhat shesaidabouttheimpossibilityofchangebywayofreparativetherapy?It cannotbepossible.Asnoted,Minterworkedwithatleastonewomanwho
TheAdvocate,122993,p.40 Frontiers,41996,pg.31 183Frontiers,41996,p.31
181 182
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changedherownsocalledsexualorientation,JoAnneLoulan,andanother whowroteatleastonearticlechallengingthepermanencyofsexualorientation, KateKendall.Whathypocrisy. Isitpossibletocontinuetotrusttheseactivistswhentheysaythatthe gayidentityispermanentandreparativetherapyimpossible?Itisnot.It seemsobviousbynowthatactivistsareeagertoshunreparativetherapistsnot becausetheylikewiseunderstandsexualpreferencestobefluid,butbecause manyreparativetherapistsdonotaffirmtheseactivistssexualbehavior.Thisis amoralconflict,notascientificone. WhileShannonMinterwassuingreparativetherapists,Dr.RobertCabaj (pronouncedsabye)aprosodomyactivistandchairmanoftheCaucusof Gay,LesbianandBisexualPsychiatristslaunchedhisownefforttopressurethe APAtodeclarereparativetherapyunethical.Cabajsfirsteffortfailedhowever, becauseitwasseenasinfringingonpsychiatristsconstitutionalrightstofree speech.TheWashingtonBladegivesdetails: ItwastheAssemblymemberswhorefused,in1994,totakeactionona resolutionthatsoughttohavetheorganizationonrecordasdisapproving reparativetherapy.Dr.RobertCabaj(pronouncedsabye),thehomosexual psychiatristwholedthe1994effort,saidthepositionstatementgotentangledin acontroversyinvolvingapsychiatristwhoopposedthestatementbecausehe contendedhisFirstAmendmentrighttofreedomofspeechwouldbe jeopardized.184 Radically,Cabajwantedreparativetherapydeclaredunethicalsothat psychiatriststreatingpersonsseekinghelpwouldbedelegitimizedbythe AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.Dr.JeffreySatinover,apsychiatristwho practicesandsupportsreparativetherapy,providesthespecificsofCabajs proposal: 1.APAlabelingreparativetherapy(conversion)therapyasunethical, 2.Acontinuingefforttohavereparativetherapylabeledanabuseormisuseof psychiatry,and 3.FindingawaytoisolatetheNationalOrganizationforResearchand TherapyofHomosexuality(NARTH),agroupwhosemembersfeelconflicted homosexualscanandshouldbechangedtoHeterosexuals.185 NoteherethatthewordTherapyisincorrectinpointnumberthree.The correctwordisTreatment.Cabajdidnotevenknowthenameofthe organizationhewasattacking.Fortunately,Dr.Cabajsfirstattackfailedin1994. However,severalyearsoflobbyingbytheCaucusofGay,LesbianandBisexual
184 185
WashingtonBlade,12111998,p.21 HomosexualityandthePoliticsofTruth,abookbyDr.JeffrySatinover,1996,p.182
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Psychiatristspaidoffin1998.TheprosodomynewspaperTheWashingtonBlade tellsthestory: Cabaj,whoalsowrotetheCaliforniabasedGayandLesbianMedical Associationspositionpaperonthecontroversialtherapy,saidproponentsofthe APAsstatementhavespentthepastfouryearssolicitingsupportforitamong psychiatristsnationwide. TheBoardhasbeenmoreunderstandingandawareofthisissueforquite awhile,hesaid.Theysupported(theresolutionopposingreparativetherapy) in1994. Thegroundworklaidbysupportersofthestatementcouldfindno scientificstudytoprovereparativetherapyisorisnoteffective. Wecollectedpublishedinformationshowingpoorornoresults,hesaid. Andmanystudiesthatclaimed(reparativetherapy)doesworkweredoneby religiousbasedgroupswithoutrealfollowuptoseeiftherewasachangein sexualorientation. Inaddition,Cabajsaidmostofthestudiescollectedemphasizedachange insexualbehaviorbutnotachangeinsexualorientation. Theotherstrategyusedbyproponentsofthepositionstatementinvolved discussingtheproposalwithpsychiatristswhomakeuptheAPAsvotingbody andresidein75geographicdistrictsacrossthecountry.Cabajnotedthatthose whosupportthepositionstatementconductedamuchbroadereducationaleffort withtheircolleaguesthistime. In1994,theydidntknowwhatweweretalkingaboutatallandthey reactedconservatively,hesaid.Withthebackgroundresearchwedid,andby makingmorepersonalappeals,wewerehopingitwouldmakeiteasier.186 Indeeditdid,andonDecember11,1998the21memberBoardofTrustees oftheAPAadoptedapositionstatementwhichspeaksnegativelyofreparative therapy. Butwasthisascientificdecisionorapoliticalone?Recallthewordsof activistBarbaraGittingsfrom1974inreferencetotheAPAsdroppingof Homosexualityasamentaldisorder,Thatshowfarwevecomeintenyears. NowweevenhavetheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationrunningscared.187Was theAPArunningscaredin1998aswell? AccordingtotheWashingtonBlade,RobertCabaj,alsowrotethe CaliforniabasedGayandLesbianMedicalAssociationspositionpaperonthe
186 187
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conversionaltherapy188Notetheuseofthewordalsointhisstatement.A prosodomyactivistandmemberofaprosodomypressuregroupwrotea statementconsistentwithTheGayAgenda.Whatelseisnew?Prosodomy activistsstillhavetheAPAintimidatedandcontrolled.IftheAPAwerenot controlledwhywouldtheyallowsuchanopenlybiasedindividualtowritea politicallyratherthanscientificallymotivatedpositionstatement;anindividual whoengagedinsodomyhimself?Whywouldtheynotlookforamoreneutral psychologist?Whywouldtheynotrequiremoreproof? Whatmightthescientificconsequencesofsuchanunscientificstatement be?LookingatonepartofCabajsPositionStatementonPsychiatricTreatment and(socalled)SexualOrientationwefindthatit,stipulatesthatthepotential risksofreparativetherapyaregreat,includingdepression,anxiety,andself destructivebehavior,sincetherapistsalignmentwithsocietalprejudicesagainst homosexualitymayreinforceselfhatredalreadyexperiencedbythepatient.189 Ifyoungpsychiatristsacceptthisstatement,itmayleadthemtorefuseto treatpersonswithsamesexattractionswhoseekhelp.Ifthisweretohappenit wouldbeashame.Notonlybecausethestatementispoliticalratherthan scientificbutbecausethestatementactuallysaysnothing.Takeacloserlook. Noticehowtheaforementionedstatementappearstostatenegativefactsabout reparativetherapy.However,alsonoticetheuseofqualifyingtermssuchas potential,risks,andmayreinforce.Notealsotheuseoftheterm prejudices.Thisstatementactuallysaysnothing.Inaddition,thissame WashingtonBladearticlenotesthattheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationhas notexplicitlycondemnedreparativetherapybecause,researchershaveyetto demonstrateconclusivelythatreparativetherapyisharmful.190TheAPAs prematureadoptionofCabajsproposalthen,wasapoliticalmove,meantto pandertoactivists,notadirectivescientificdecision. Despitetheadoptionofthispoliticalposition,positivestudiesassociated withreparativetherapyareplentiful.Dr.JeffrySatinoverrelatesthisfactto readersinhisbookHomosexualityandthePoliticsofTruththroughgraphsand tables:Asthefollowingtablesillustrate,hestates,homosexualityhaslong beenrecognizedastreatable.Thetablesincludeaselectionofreportsdatingfrom 1930to1986thatdiscussavarietyoftreatablemethods.Thesetablesarebuta representativecrosssectionoftheentire60sixtyyearliteraturethatactivists condemnaswholesalelies.Recallthatintheeightyearsbetween1966and1974
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alone,justtheMedlinedatabasewhichexcludesmanypsychotherapy journalslistedoverathousandarticlesonthetreatmentofhomosexuality.191 Dr.Satinoverprovidesadiverselistofninerepresentativestudiesand theirsuccessrates.Notethatthecompositeoftheseresultsgivesanoverall successrateofover50percentwheresuccessisdefinedasconsiderableto completechange.Thesereportsclearlycontradictclaimsthatchangeisflatly impossible.Indeeditwouldbemoreaccuratetosaythatalltheexistingevidence suggestsstronglythathomosexualityisquitechangeable.Mostpsychotherapists willallowthatforthetreatmentofanycondition,a30percentsuccessratemay beanticipated.192 TwoofthestudieslistedinDr.Satinoversbook,oneolder,onenewer, werelongitudinal.Thatis,theyfollowedpatientsforseveralyearstoseeifthe reparativeeffectlasted.Satinovernotesthat,Oneofthelastarticleson homosexualchangeinamajorjournalwaspublishedin1976(beforethechill effectedtheAPA)andisnotincludedintheabovesample.Theresearcher examinedcarefullynotonlytheimmediateresultsofcombinedbehavioraland psychotherapeuticinterventions,butlongtermfollowup.Theauthorfoundthat, Of49patients31(63percent)werecontactedforfollowup.Theaverageperiod sincetheendoftreatmentwas4years.Nineteensubjects(61percent)have remainedexclusivelyheterosexual,whereasnine(29percent)havehad homosexualintercourse.Heterosexualintercoursewasreportedin28(90 percent),includingtheprevious9subjects.Three(10percent)subjectshavehad neitherhomonorheterosexualintercourse.In1984,theMastersandJohnson programsimilarlyreportedafiveyearfollowupsuccessrateof65percent.193 Reparativetherapyisaprovensuccess.Onceagain,prosodomypolitical activistscannotbetrusted;evenwhenpropagandaisapprovedbytheAPAs politicized21memberBoard.Thesefactsaboutthesuccessrateofreparative therapistscomeasnosurprisetothosewithintheprosodomymovement,but theyrejecttheresultspubliclybecausereparativetherapiststendtohaveamoral problemwiththeactivistssexualbehavior,notascientificone. Asevidencedbycountlessnumbersoftheirownarticles,prosodomy activistsknowthetruth,butareincapableoftellingitpublicly.Aswehaveseen above,theAmericanPsychologicalAssociationsstatementthatthereisno scientificevidencethatreparativetherapyworks,andthatitonlydoesharmis purepropaganda.Oneorganizationthathasbeeninstrumentalincreatingsuch
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negativeperceptionsistheNationalLesbianandGayHealthAssociation (NLGHA). In1996,theNationalLesbianandGayHealthAssociation commissionedapseudoscientificstudyspecificallydesignedtoestablish reparativetherapyasafailure.BiasedresearchersDr.MichaelSchroaderandDr. ArielShidloranthestudy.Themethodologyofthisstudywasflawedinmany ways.Forexample,intheirpublicadvertisements,thesepsychologistsshould havesaidthattheywereusingabalanced,objectiveapproachtodetermine whetherreparativetherapyworksordoesnotwork.Butwhenthesemenwere recruitingtheirsubjects(personswhohavebeenthroughreparativetherapy), stronglybiasedadswereplacedinprosodomypublications.Thetextofthead appearsbelow. HELPUSDOCUMENT THEDAMAGEOF HOMOPHOBICTHERAPIES InassociationwiththeNationalLesbianandGayHealthAssociation,weare conductingresearchontheoutcomeoftreatmentsthatclaimtocure homosexuality.Ourpurposeistodocumentdamagethatwebelieveoccurs whenalesbian,gay,orbisexualclientreceivespsychologicalhelpfroma providerwhopromisestochangeapersonssexualorientation.194 Thisblatantlybiasedadappearedonpage27oftheprosodomy publication,IntheFamily,inAprilof1996.Thereisnointentheretodetermine whetherreparativetherapymightwork.Thatissueisalreadysettledinthe mindsoftheresearchersandtheirprosodomyactivistsponsors(webelieve), beforethestudyevenbegan.Thisstrongbiascontrolstheentirestudy:Our purposeistodocumentthedamageTwothingsweredonewhichguaranteed thatreparativetherapywouldbepresentedinbadlight.First,theinflammatory rhetoricusedintheseadsguaranteesthatonlyfailuresneedapply.Noticethe usewordslikeDAMAGEandHOMOPHOBICwhichinciteonly disgruntledfailurestorespond.Notealso,thattheirclearlystatedpurposeisnot todeterminewhether,andtowhatextentreparativetherapieswork.Instead theirpurposeistodocumentthedamage.Thisstrongnegativerhetoricis guaranteedtoproduceonlynegativeresults.Second,advertisementswere placedonlyinprosodomypublicationswhichwouldnotbereadbypeoplewho hadgottenoversamesexattraction.Obviouslyonlyfailureswouldcontinue
194
IntheFamily,April1997pg.27
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toreadprosodomypublicationsforanextendedperiod,andthus,onlyfailures wouldrespondtotheads. Inaninterviewwithoneofthenationsleadingprosodomynewspapers, theWashingtonBladepsychologistsShroaderandShidlodescribetheir approach,intheirownwords:ShidloandSchroadersaidtheyhaveinterviewed about100peoplefortheirstudy,mostofwhomtheyfoundinlocalGay newspapersandmagazines.195Thesetwomenareclearabouttheirmethodology. ButSchroaderalsorevealsthatheengagesinsodomyhimself,raisingfurtherthe questionofexperimentalbias:Andsincemostpeoplecometothesetreatment programsduringtheircomingoutprocess,saidSchroader,ofcoursetheytold themthattheywereunhappy.Mostofusweremiserableatthatpoint.196 Notethatbyusingthetermus,Schroaderclearlyindicatesthathe engagesinsodomyhimself,whichraisesfurtherquestionsaboutthestudy.In closing,inevaluatingthisimportantstudywhichwascommissionedtohelp legitimizethepoliticalpositionheldbyprosodomyactivistswecansafely concludethatonlytwopossibilitiesexist.Eitherthepsychologistswho conductedthestudyaregrosslyincompetentinusingimpropermethodsto collecttheirsample(ifitcanevenbecalledasample)ofindividualsthathave beenthroughreparativetherapy,orelsethesepsychologists(iftheycaneven becalledpsychologists)arereallypropagandistsandwerebeingdeliberately deceitfulinordertoproduceresultsthatwouldbenefitTheGayAgenda.
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WashingtonBlade,7798,p.21 WashingtonBlade,7798,p.21,emphasismine
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14 BornStraight
Natureexistswhetheracademicslikeitornot.Andinnature,procreationisthesingle relentlessrule...Oursexualbodiesweredesignedforreproduction...Nooneisborngay. Theideaisridiculous...Homosexualityisanadaptation,notaninborntrait. (ProSodomyActivist,CamillePaglia) Allhumanbeings,withtherareexceptionofhermaphrodites,areborn withabiologicalreproductivesystemthatisselfevidentlygeneticand unchangeablyheterosexual.Malebodieshavemalesexorgans.Femalebodies havefemalesexorgans.DNAselfevidentlyorderedtheproductionofthese complimentarysexualparts,and,theonlyreasonhumanbodieshavesexual feelingsatall,isbecauseofthechemicalandhormonalprocessesrootedinits procreativeheterosexualdesign. Bydefinition,allmenwhoengageinsodomyhavemalesexorgans, designedbynaturetofitthesexorgansoffemales,notothermales.Therefore,if somemendevelopsexualdesiresforothermen,ratherthanforwomen,itis clearthathowevertheydevelopedthosedesires,theyarecontrarytotheir naturalphysicalprovision. Justthink,wouldntweconsideritunnaturalifsomeonehadperfectly healthyeyesbutcouldnotsee,orfullyfunctioningearsbutcouldnothear? Thismaybesomethingpsychological,butcertainlynotbiological.Biologically speakingeverythingisworkingfine.Whythen,wouldwedeemitnaturalfora persontohaveperfectlyhealthy,fullyfunctioningmaleorfemalereproductive organs,butthenbedispositionallyincapableofeverusingthemtoaccomplish theirnaturalreproductivepurposewiththeoppositesex?197 Tomakethepointanotherway,imaginethatyouarelookingoutatalake fromaroomupstairs;itisobvious(onceyouthinkaboutit)thatyouarelooking throughawindow.Butifitisthelakethatinterestsyou,youmaylookatitfora longtimewithoutoncethinkingofthewindow.Whenyouarereadingabookit isobvious(onceyouattendtoit)thatyouareusingyoureyes:butunlessyour eyesbegintohurtyou,orthebookisatextbookonoptics,youmayreadall
197
GregoryKoukl,StandtoReason
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eveningwithoutoncethinkingofeyes.198Inasimilarway,apersonmaygoon engaginginsodomyoranynumberofotherperversionsformanyyears,yet neverattendtothefactthattheonlyreasonheorshehassexualorgansand sexualfeelingsatall,isbecauseofthechemicalandhormonalprocessesrooted inhisorherbodysprocreative,heterosexualdesign. Itseemsthenthatsometimesthatwhichisinonesensethemostobvious andprimary,andthroughwhichaloneapersonhasaccesstoallelse,maybe preciselytheonethatismosteasilyforgottenforgottennotbecauseitisso remoteorabstrusebutbecauseitissonear,soobvious,soselfevident.Foras batseyesaretodaylight,wroteAristotle,soisourintellectualeyetothose truthswhichare,intheirownnature,themostobviousofall.(Aristotle, Metaphysics,I(Brevior)i) Indeed,thebeliefthatmalesaredesignedforreproductionandtherefore females,ratherthancanopeners,snakes,cowrectums,oranyotherobjectby whichonemaybeperverselyconditionedtofetishiswarrantednotasthe conclusionofanyargument,butasoneoftheprerequisitesforanysound argumentwhatsoever.Itistheverypremise,theveryaxiombywhichwecan reasonaboutthesubjectatall.Andaxiomsneithersolicitnordemandproofs beyondtheirownintegrity.MastersandJohnsonagree. Together,WilliamMastersandVirginiaE.Johnsonareknownasthe twentiethcenturysmostrenownedresearchteaminthefieldofhuman sexuality.MastersandJohnsonbegantheirworkinpsychologyandhuman sexualityinthelate1950sandcontinuedtheirresearchwellintothe1990s.They begantheirworkattheDepartmentofObstetricsandGynecologyatWashington UniversityinSt.Louis.Then,in1964,theresearchersfoundedanindependent notforprofitresearchinstituteinSt.LouiscalledtheReproductiveBiology ResearchFoundation,whichlaterchangeditsnametotheMastersandJohnson Institute.Overthecourseoftheircareer,MastersandJohnsontrainedthousands ofpsychologists,authoredtwoclassictextsontheissueofhumansexuality,and wereeveninductedintotheSt.LouisWalkofFame. InanarticleentitledHomosexualityinPerspectiveMastersandJohnson makethefollowingstatementaboutmenandwomenwhoarestrugglingwith samesexattraction:Whendealingwithproblemsofsexualpreference,itisvital thatallhealthcareprofessionalsbearinmindthatthehomosexualmanor womanisbasicallyamanorwomanbygeneticdeterminationandis homosexuallyorientedbylearnedpreference.199Dr.JohnDeCeccoagrees.
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Prosodomyactivist,Dr.DeCecco,istheeditoroftheJournalof Homosexuality,aprofessorofpsychologyatSanFranciscoStateUniversity,and hasbeenhonoredbytheGLBTHistoricalSociety.200InanarticleentitledA BiologicTheoryforSexualPreferencewhichappearedinUSAToday,DeCecco dismissesthenotionthatanyoneisborngaywhenhestates:Themove towardsbiologizinghomosexualityisnttheresultofascientificconsensus,but apoliticalconsensusbythoseeagertolabelpeoplegayorstraight. Homosexuality,hesays,isabehavior,notacondition,andsomethingthat somepeoplecananddochange.201 Dr.CamillePagliaisaprofessorofHumanitiesandMediaStudiesatthe UniversityoftheArtsinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania.Pagliaisalsoaprominent andawardwinningauthorandhasbeenrankednumber20inalistoftheworlds Top100PublicIntellectualsbytheUKsProspectMagazine.Shedefinesherselfas aFeministBisexualEgomaniac.Inherbook,VampsandTramps,Pagliastarkly defendsthereproductivenatureofmalesandfemaleswhenshewrites: Homosexualityisnotnormal.Onthecontraryitisachallengetothe norm...Natureexistswhetheracademicslikeitornot.Andinnature,procreation isthesinglerelentlessrule.Thatisthenorm.Oursexualbodiesweredesigned forreproduction...Nooneisborngay.Theideaisridiculous...Homosexualityis anadaptation,notaninborntrait.202 Lastly,inthewordsofoneofthemostinfluentialthinkersofthetwentieth century,C.S.Lewis,Thedesignofthehumanbodyisscreamingtous,thatits twohalves,themaleandthefemale,weremadetobecombinedtogetherin pairs,notsimplyonthesexuallevelbutonalllevels,andwhenIsaythis,Iam notexpressingameresentiment,butstatingafactjustasapersonisstatinga factwhentheysaythatalockanditskeyareonemechanism,orthataviolinand abowareonemusicalinstrument;themaleandfemalearedesignedtocome together,andfunctionasasingleorganism.203 Prosodomyactivists,havingfailedtomakethecaseinthephysicalsense ofthetermnatural,havebysleightofhandturnedourattentiontowarda differentdefinitionofthetermnatural:thenaturalworld.
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4645 K.Painter,(March1,1989),ABiologicTheoryforSexualPreference,USATodayp.4D 202CamillePaglia,VampsandTramps(NewYorkVintageBooks,1994),pp.7072 203C.S.Lewis,MereChristianity
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Chapter15
ButisntSameGenderSexNaturalbecauseitOccursinNature? Inanefforttoportraysodomyasacommonandwidespread phenomenon,activistsareturningsocietysattentiontothenaturalworld.Their strategyisfairlystraightforward:Simplycompileevidenceofanimalsengaging insamegendersex,asmanygaygeese,lesbianlizards,queerquail,and transgenderedtigersasyoucanfind,andclaimthattheactsindicatethat sexualityhasnonorm. Recently,therewasawholeexhibitdevotedtothissubjectattheOslo NaturalHistoryMuseuminNorway,titled,AgainstNature?Theshow includedphotographsofonemalegiraffemountinganother,apesstimulating othersofthesamegender,andtwoarousedwhalesrubbingagainsteachother. Thepurposeofthisexhibit,accordingtoPetterBockman,azoologistwho assistedintheexhibitsorganizationwastohelpdemystifysodomyamong peopletorejectthealltoowellknownargumentthatsodomyisacrime againstnature. Mr.Bockmanisnottheonlyactivistusingthisstrategy.Another,pro sodomyactivist,JoanRoughgarden,aselfdescribedtransgenderedprofessor ofbiologyatStanfordUniversityhastriedtomakethesameargumentin virtuallythesameway.Hehasactuallyattemptedtocataloguethevarious permutationsofsodomyintheanimalkingdominhisbookEvolutionsRainbow. Itishis,Imeanher,contention,thatthesodomydocumentedinover450 vertebratespeciesinnotonlyanormal(inthedistributivesenseoftheword) aspectoflifebutanecessaryone,providinginsomespecies,suchastheJapanese macaque,thesocialstabilityneededforlongtermsurvival.(Itshouldbenoted thattheauthorofthestudyonwhichRoughgardenbasesthisstrawman argument,Dr.PaulVasey,rejectsRoughgardensconclusions.) TherearemanywaystoexplainwhytheclaimsofBockmanand Roughgardenareerroneous.HereIwillprovidefour.Letusbeginfirstwitha meretechnicality.Evenifsodomyhasbeenobservedin1,500species,assome scientistsmaintain,thatstillleavesover14millionanimalspeciesthatengage exclusivelyinprocreativetypebehaviors.Canwereallysaythatsomethingis normal,inthedistributivesenseoftheword,asMr.Roughgardendoes,when itoccursinonly.01%ofanimalspecies? Thisstrawmanisalsoflawedonasecondarylevel,becauseitassumes thateroticbehaviorinothermammalsisthesameasperceivedhomosexual desireandidentityinhumanbeings.Menhavesexwithmenand/orfallinlove 91
notmerelybecauseofanattractiontoaphysicalbodypart(womenhavethat bodyparttoo),butratherbecauseofanattractiontoagender.Theyaremale erotic,andsodomyisanexpressionofthatdesire.Doestheanimalkingdom displaythiskindofsamegendereroticismorperceivedsexualidentity?Whena maledogmountsanothermaledog,isitbecausehesattractedtothemale genderoftheotherdog?Wouldthisdogconsiderhimselfahomosexual?Does hebarkwithalisp? Idontthinkso.Thissamepoorpoochwillslavishlymountsofasor shrubsoranythingelseavailable,includingthelegofyourdinnerguest.Noneof thesethingsaretheobjectofthecaninessexuallust;theyaremerelythesubject ofit.Thedogdoesnotdesireyourunfortunatevisitor.Hesimplydesirestobe stimulated.Thismayprovethatdogsmasturbate.Itdoesnotprovethatthey havesamesexattractioninanywayparallelwithhumanbeings. Third,andmostpertinently,whywouldwewanttomodeloursexual behaviorafterthatofanimals?Itisnotasifwelooktotheminothermatters, consultingourpetswheneverweneedadviceonpermissibleconduct.Ifwedid so,wewouldsoonfindourselveseatingfeces,engaginginincest,andmarking ourterritoryeachtimeweenteredanewroom.Totakeourcuefromanimalsis toimplythatwearelikewisemerebeasts,whichisnodoubttheassumptionthat undergirdsthelatestpushtolegitimizesodomy.Indeed,itisonlywhenman hasbeenstrippedofhismeaningandpurposewhenheisreducedtohisbestial appetitesthatsuchappealstoanimalismcanevenbegintomakesense. Fourth,theviewassertsthatsimplybecauseaconditionorbehavior occursinnaturethatitisnatural.Butbythisuseofthewordallsortsof thingswouldbenatural,humansmatingwithanimals,childrendrinking cleaningfluid,rainforestsbeingreplacedwithconcrete,becauseallwouldbe occurringinnature.Humanbeingsareapartofnaturebythisdefinition,and thereforeallandanyhumanconductwouldbenatural.Virtuallynothingcould everbeconsideredunnaturalontheseterms.Generallywemeansomethingelse whenwesaythatreplacingvirginforestswithparkinglots,imbibingpoison, copulatingwithbeastsorwithmembersofonesowngenderarenotnatural. Thingsarenaturaliftheyfitthepretechnological,naturalorderofthings; theyarefunctioningaccordingtotheirprimitivedesign,pattern,orpurpose,and thatiskey.Anaturalandnormativesexualdesire,then,isadesirethatservesto accomplishasexualgoalintheprimitiveorderofthings.However,this definitionofnaturaldoesnthelpthesodomyadvocateeither.Accordingtothe primitivenaturalorderofthings,thenaturalpurposeofsexisreproduction, gettingonesgenesintothenextgeneration.Butmenwhohavesexwithmen dontreproduce,sosodomycantbenaturalonthisdefinitioneither.
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Chapter16
WhatifbeingGaywasNatural? NatureandMorality OstensiblyunawareofTheGayAgenda,prosodomycolumnistRobert Scheerhasnotedthat,Homosexualityinthevastmajorityofcasesisacondition thatisgivenandnotchosen,andmustthereforebehonoredaspartofthe naturalorderofthings.Scheerscommentsreflectastandardmisconception aboutsodomyandethics:Ifwecanfindaconnectionbetweensamesex attractionandnature,thenwemustsurrenderourmoralobjectionstosamesex relationshipsandsodomyasanexpressionofthatattraction.Theerrorisin thinkingthatonehasanythingtodowiththeother.Itdoesnt. PhilosophersDavidHumeandGeorgeEdwardMoorearguethatitis impossibletoproduceadeductivelyvalidargumentwithfactualpremisesand anethicalconclusion.Inshort,youcantgetanoughtfromanis.Thisis calledthenaturalisticfallacy.Inlaymansterms,justbecauseabehavioror feelingcomesnaturaldoesnotmakeitright.Thisbecomesobviousona momentsreflection.Doesanaturaltendencytowardsviolencejustifyassault? Doesanaturaldesireforfoodjustifytheft?Doesanaturalaversiontomenand womenwhoengageinsodomyjustifygaybashing? EthicistC.BenMitchellagreeswhenhewrites,...evenifresearchers foundasocalledgaygene,thatwouldnotchangetheimmoralityof homosexuality.Sciencecannotdomoralwork.Thatis,sciencedoesnothavethe powertodeterminewhatsrightandwrong.If,forexample,ageneticlinkto alcoholismisproven,Mitchellnotedthatitwouldjustmakeitmoreurgentto avoidtakingthefirstdrink. Animalsdowhatcomesnaturally.Wearenotmerebeasts,buthuman beingsprotectedbymoralityfromthetyrannyofourirrationalnatural appetites,impulses,andinclinations.Thedifferencebetweenjustdoingwhat comesnaturallyandprincipledselfrestraintiscalledcivilization. Further,persistinginthislineofreasoningannihilatestheargumentfor adoptionrightsforthesocalledhomosexualcouples.Ifsodomyisright becauseitisnatural,thenallowingsocalledhomosexualstoadoptmustbe wrongbecauseitisunnaturalforthemtohavechildren.Ifnaturealonedictates morality,andthenaturalconsequenceforthosewhoengageinsodomyistobe childless,thenitisunnaturalandthereforeimmoralforsocalledhomosexuals tohaveandraisechildren.Artificialinseminationoflesbiansoradoptionsby
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