TheBornGayHoax

Thisbookisdedicatedtotherisinggeneration

 TheBornGayHoax

RyanSorba

 Publishedby:________________ P.O.Box2037 WilmingtonDE,92307 Copyright2007byRyanSorbaInc. Box571,WilmingtonDe,19806 AllRightsReserved FirstEdition IBSN0964560137 4

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

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 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

referringtotheactofsodomy. 4Rutlegge,LeighW.,TheGayBookofLists.Boston,AlysonPublicationsInc.,1987,pg41andpg.45inPinkSwastika 5MarkSteyn,TheresNoStoppingThemNow,ChicagoSunTimes,July13,2003,p.35

withintheprosodomymovementandthroughoutGermanypushedhis movementunderground.Ulrichssstrategywasdestinedtolieexplicitly dormantfornearlyacentury;yetitsinfluencesurvivedimplicitlyinthe language.Thethirdgendertheoryestablishedanewconceptforthemasses. Thisconceptcarriedwithitanentirelynewblueprintforsocietysfuture.

 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

ibid.:392 ibid.:633n 14ibid.:394 15ibid.:132 16J.Katz:412f 17ibid.:36 18Timmons:76 19ibid.:265

12 13

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

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 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

(Ebert,Michael.PedophiliaStepsintotheDaylight;FocusontheFamilyCitizen.November16, 1992Pg.6f.) 24(RobinsoninReisman,Dr.JudithA.,andEichel,EdwardW.Kinsey,SexandFraud:The IndoctrinationofaPeople.Lafayette,Louisiana,HuntingtonHouse,1990,1992:204.)

23

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

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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.

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 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

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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

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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

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 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

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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

MakingHistory:TheStruggleforGayandLesbianEqualRights,19451990:anOralHistoryby EricMarcusp.221 53TheGayCrusaders,p.234 54TheGayCrusaders,p.216 55TheGayMilitants,byDonnTeal,p.272273 56Ibid.,p.274 57ibidp.275

52

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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

ibid.:88 LoveUndetectable,AndrewSullivan,1998,p.107 65TheLongRoadtoFreedom,ed.byMarkThompsan1994,p.97 66TheLongRoadtoFreedom,ed.byMarkThompsan1994,p.104

63 64

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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

TheLongRoadtoFreedom,ed.byMarkThompsan1994,p.105106 Adam:88 69Rueda:106 70MakingHistory,p.224

67 68

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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

KirkandMadsen,AftertheBall:HowAmericaWillConquerItsFearandHatredoftheGaysinthe 90s,p.184 79Ibidp.7 80ibidp.8 81Ibid.p.8 82ibidp.8 83ibidp.10

78

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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

ibidp.7 ibid,p.8 86ibid.p.8 87ibid.p.14

84 85

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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

TheAdvocate,9595,p.43 IfYouSeduceAStraightPersonYouCanMakeThemGay,JohnDeCecco,pg.1718 97QueerbyChoice:Lesbians,GayMen,andthePoliticsofIdentity,ByDr.VeraWhisman;NewYork: Routlege,1996p.132 98OffOurBacks,Oct.1996,p.22

95 96

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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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publications.Itisobvioushowever,thatborngaypropagandistsfromKirk andMadsenon,keepthefactofsexualfluiditysecretfromthestraight communityforpoliticalreasons.Prosodomyactivistshowever,asevidencedby theirownarticles,talkabouttheborngayhoaxandtherealitiesofsexual choiceregularlyamongstthemselves. 36

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

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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

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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

OffOurBacks,Dec.1996pg.13 TheAdvocate,June24th1997,Pg.28 122TheAdvocate,June24th1997,Pg.28

120 121

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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

TheAdvocate,101596,p.72 Kramer:234 137Out,July1999,p.51

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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.
140

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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

OUT,p.94 OUT,p.94f 143OUT,p.95 144OUT,p.96

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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

LambdaBookReport,Oct.1996,p.29f LambdaBookReport,Oct.1996,p.30 147Frontiers,51697,p.55f

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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

Frontiers,51697,p.56 IntheFamily,aprosodomymagazine,July1998,p.9 150IntheFamily,ahomosexualmagazine,July1998,p.11 151Diva,June1996,p.43

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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

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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?

Diva,June1996,p.44 Newsweek,July17th1995p.50 156WashingtonBlade**** 157Rouge,Issue16,1994,p.16 158TheAdvocate,72297,p.6

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Becauseyoulookatstudiesnow,andobviouslylesbiansaresleepingwithmen.I thinkwearebeatingourheadsagainstthesecategoriesrightnow.159 Later,thearticleinwhichWalkersquoteappeared,reinforcesher observation,twostudiesoflesbianshavebeenconductedfrom1978through 1989andfoundthatbetween74%and81%hadengagedatsomepointin heterosexualintercourse,theunifiedsafeandsecurelesbiancommunity beginstolooklikeonebigbisexualcloset.160

159 160

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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

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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,

TheWashingtonBlade,13192,p.39 AndtheBandPlayedOn,1988,p.182 168WayneBesen:ExposingScandalsBehindtheExGayMythaninterviewbyRajAyyar,GayToday 8,no.87March27,2004)(CaseForMarriage,150)

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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.)
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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
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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

WashingtonBlade,12111998,p.25 GayAmericanHistory,byJonathanNedKatz,1992,p.427.ThisinterviewwastapedJuly19, 1974

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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

WashingtonBlade,121198,p.25 WashingtonBlade,121198,p.21 190WashingtonBlade,121198,p.21

188 189

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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

HomosexualityandthePoliticsofTruth,p.185 HomosexualityandthePoliticsofTruth,p.186 193HomosexualityandthePoliticsofTruth,p.187

191 192

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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
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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.

195 196

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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.
198 199

C.S.Lewis,Miracles [W.H.Masters,V.E.Johnson(1979)HomosexualityinPerspective,Little,Brownand Company:Boston]

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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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Sodomydoesnotseemtobenaturalinanymeaningfulsenseoftheword. Thoseadvocatingforthebehaviorhavefailedtomakethecasethatsodomyand samesexattractionarenaturalinthenarrowsense,determinedbyphysical constitution,ornaturalinthebroadsense,anormaloccurrenceinnature. Sodomyactivistshavenonaturaldirectionlefttoturn.Itseemsclearbynowthat Samesexattractionistheproductofadisorderedanddisintegratedpsyche, irrationalimpulses,andselfdestructiveinclinations.Samesexattractionmaybe psychological,butnevernatural.Eventually,prosodomyactivistswillhaveto facethefactsandconcedethepoint.

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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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homosexualcoupleswouldbewrongbytheirownargument.Thesame principlegovernsbothissues;theycantpickandchoose.Thatscheating. Mygoalherehasnotbeentoprovethatsodomyisimmoraljustyet; althoughIamconvincedthatitis,butrathertorefuteoneofitscommon justifications.Themoralityofsodomycanneverbedefendedbyanyappealto nature,butonlybyanappealtomoralrules.Naturealonecanneverprovideus withthose.Prosodomyactivistswillhavetofindanotherwaytomaketheir case. 95