From: randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea)
Newsgroups: soc.motss,ca.politics
Subject: Re: Book Review "The Homosexalities"
Date: 22 Jan 93 01:32:24 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

Arthur_T_Hu@cup.portal.com writes:

>That doesn't mean we can bash gays any more than we should hate blacks becaus
>that group is more prone to crime. It does mean that any talk that gays
>are statistically and psychologically just like anybody else is pure bunk
>for anyone that bothers to dig in the facts (as is drug use and
>promiscuity). Any bunch that simply throws away all relevant facts and then
>stands on no supporting evidence in my mind has some problems.

I have yet to see any convincing evidence that 1) homosexuality is
a "mental illness" that can be "cured"; 2) The parents of homosexuals
are to blame for their sexual preference (which the book states, according
to the article); 3) Homosexuals inherently have more psychological
problems than heterosexuals; 4) Homosexuals are "oversexed" or have
more sex drive than heterosexuals.

How can one determine if homosexuals have more inherent psychological
problems?  Let's say that homosexuals do have more mental problems (which
I don't necessarily believe).  How many of the problems are caused
by gay-bashing and by being treated like outcasts?   What is the
cause, and what is the effect?

As far as the "cure" thing goes, I have seen little evidence that
such programs are generally effective.  Some psychologists have claimed
to have "cured" some homosexuals, but there appear to be far more
who have tried to "cure" and have failed.  A number of religious
organizations also claim success in "curing" gays, but many of
them use bizarre, cult-like methods that can be very psychologically
damaging.  I have known gays who have been royally messed up
by such cults.

The single heterosexuals that I know have been much more promiscuous
overall than the gays I know.   They also brag more about their
sexual conquests.   If heterosexuals accuse gays of being "oversexed"
in the 70's and 80's, well, that's the pot calling the kettle black.
I know heterosexuals who have had dozens if not hundreds of sex 
partners and still brag about it.  The best-known HIV victim
is Magic Johnson, who is heterosexual.

Blaming parents for their child's homosexuality is a terribly
painful and damaging act.   Some parents have tremendous, 
psychologically damaging feelings of guilt and shame.  It also has 
little or no basis in scientific fact.   Homosexuals have had a wide
range of parents, just like everyone else.  I know two twin brothers,
one of whom is gay and the other is not.  They had the same parents
and were treated the same by them.  How do you explain that one?

I am willing to accept that there may be some psychological reasons
for homosexuality, (such as problems in the relationship with the
parents) and that in a few cases, professional help can change a 
person's sexual preference.   I don't believe, however, that
homosexuals should be lumped into a class of mentally ill, perverted
people who are to blame for their problems.  Of all the gays I 
know, none of them felt that they ever had a choice of their
sexual preference.  They felt that they were born homosexual, just
like I was born heterosexual and never had a choice either.  The
causes of homosexuality are still quite mysterious and complex.
Attempts to simplify matters with naiive psudo-scientific generalizations
will only deepen the chasm of misunderstanding, hatred, and prejudice.



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Randall Rhea                                        Informix Software, Inc. 
Project Manager, MIS Sales/Marketing Systems    uunet!pyramid!infmx!randall