RE: [asa] science and homosexuality

I posted this summary of relevant social science research a couple of
years ago -- I'm reposting in case it is of interest.

1. Homosexuality has been consistently documented across cultures
and across time, as well as in animals. From the National Health and
Social Life Survey (researchers at the Univ of Chicago): about 5% of men
and 4% of women reported having had sex with a same-sex partner since
age 18.

Getting at this information is viewed as difficult because
discrimination and widespread hostility make it hard to disclose, so the
actual incidence may be a bit higher; some estimates are 5%-7%, up to
10%. References:

o The Construction of Homosexuality (1988) by D. F. Greenberg
o Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity
(1999), by B. Bagemihl
o Patterns of Sexual Behavior (1951) by C. S. Ford & F. A. Beach

2. Homosexual feelings (being attracted to someone of the same sex)
consistently develop in people beginning in middle childhood or early
adolescence. The "feelings" come first, then behavior. References:

o Demography of Sexual Orientation in Adolescents (1992 Pediatrics
journal article), by G. Remafedi
o Sexual Identity Trajectories Among Sexual-Minority Youths: Gender
Comparisons (2000 Archives of Sexual Behavior journal article), by R. C.
Savin-Williams and L.M. Diamond

3. Most gay men and lesbian women experience "no choice or little
choice" in their feelings of attraction to their own sex. References:

o Psychological Sequelae of Hate-Crime Victimization Among Lesbian, Gay,
and Bisexual Adults (1999 Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
article), by G. M. Herek et al.
o Gay and Lesbian Youth: Expressions of Identity (1990), by R.C.
Savin-Williams
o Is Sexual Orientation a Matter of Choice? (1997 Psychology of Women
Quarterly journal article), by S. Rosenbluth

That is, homosexuality is about as much a "choice" for gay and lesbian
people as heterosexuality is for straight people.

4. There is a more important aspect. The negative reaction
straight people have to the idea of homosexuality causes noxious
discrimination, intense and unrelenting, for those who have taken the
hugely courageous step of coming out -- first to self, then family and
friends. One of the most critical and judgmental places for gay people
is church, which is why so many gay people avoid church. Of the many
painful issues associated with our national discussion of homosexuality
and heterosexuality, that's the most painful to me personally.

Leslie Cameron

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Freeman, Louise Margaret
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 9:26 AM
To: Asa
Subject: Re: [asa] science and homosexuality

>
> However, I do not find Jones' and Yarhouse's modest appropriation of
> science to be a dominant feature of either side of the debate. There
> is a lot of rhetoric from conservative evangelical circles about the
> "lie"
> of
> scientists saying that some people are born gay or lesbian. It is
> very close to the rhetoric about the "lie" of an old-earth or
> evolution. On the other side, I hear many argue that they look
> forward to the day when science finally "proves" that homosexuality is

> a genetic condition and not a moral issue. That's just an invitation
> to abuse science from the other extreme.

My graduate advisor has done extensive work in sexual differentiation of
the brain, including some that has implications for the biological
causes of homosexualy and transgenderism. A couple of years ago I did a
little web-surfing to see how his work specificall had been interpreted
by various advocacy groups.

I found three different classes of responses. This is based on memory
and I'm using a bit of hyperbole in descriing the reactions, but I'm
sure you get the picture.

1) Viewpoint of website: conservative religious
 Finding: certain structures in the rat spinal cord change size with
sexual activity.
Implication: Anatomical differences (such as those found in the brains
of homo- and
hetero-sexuals) my be caused by behavior, not inborn.)
Reaction: An't science wonderful? It's finally proving what God told us
all along.

2) Viewpoint: Conservative religious
Finding: Anatomical markers suggest homosexuals are exposed to diffeent
levels of testosterone in utero
Implication: Events beyond a person's contro that occur before birth and
influence sexual orientation
Reaction: This is junk science by an incompetent researcher; besides
scientists are all part of a liberal Godless conspiracy and not to be
trusted.

3) Viewpoint: Pro Gay rights
Finding & implication: same as #2
Reaction: Ain't science wonderful? It proves jhomosexuality is an
inborn condition and not a moral issue.

I just need to find a gay right group denoucing the study in #1 and I'll
have a complete set!

If I had the time to go digging, I'd love to see how various atheist and
Christian groups responded to the published prayer studies of a few
years ago (which supposedly worked) and the more recent one which
clearly did not. I'm betting you'll see a lot of the same arguements.
just applied to different studies.

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Received on Wed Jun 14 10:02:21 2006