by Jeremy Reynalds, Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service Albuquerque, NM
Not surprisingly, a controversial but nonetheless highly credible study claiming that highly motivated homosexuals can go straight is being praised by Christian ministries but bashed by radical gay activists. In a press release issued earlier this week by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the group unfairly targeted the study as being nothing more than "snake oil targeted as science." The study, by Robert Spitzer, a highly respected psychiatrist at Columbia University, claims that "highly motivated" gays can change their sexual orientation through the use of a variety of therapeutic approaches.
Homosexual rights activists are fuming about the study's conclusion, pointing out (as if this makes the study invalid) that 43 percent of the participants were referred to Spitzer by ex-gay ministries and that another 23 percent were referred by what advocate.com (a gay Internet newspaper) calls the "antigay" National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. Because of the involvement of these groups, the NGLTF's political director Tim McFeeley trashed the study as being "tainted and biased." McFeeley said, "Sexual orientation is not a disease that can be cured' by reparative therapy -- or by religious extremism ... The general public and virtually every legitimate medical group has come to know that."
However, this study is not some diabolical anti-gay plot by the religious right, as some gay extremists would like us to believe. John Paulk of Focus on the Family's gender and homosexuality department was quoted in media reports as saying that Spitzer has described himself as an "atheistic, humanistic Jew." Spitzer told media that the research shows "some people can change from gay to straight and we ought to acknowledge that ... If somebody wants to change and it's not because they are just responding to
pressure, it shouldn't be assumed that it's irrational or giving into society. (The mental health profession) has totally bought the idea that once you are gay you cannot be changed," he said. Now in addition to being patently untrue, the idea (despite the evidence presented in Spitzer's study), that gays cannot change, is dishonest science. These radical activists are in effect saying that no matter what evidence is presented to them, they don't care: gays can't change and those who say they can are lying because WE (who are closed to any evidence to the contrary) know that they can't.
Let's think about this for a moment. Homosexual rights activists are miffed that many of those individuals who took part in the study were referred by Christian groups opposed to homosexuality. Well, where else could Spitzer turn to? He sure couldn't go to the gay community because as Spitzer quite correctly noted they believe once gay, always gay. So not surprisingly he turned to the groups who DO believe that homosexuals can change: Christians.
While there needs to be a lot more work done to more conclusively validate this study, the initial results appear obvious. Homosexuals with the motivation to change can do so, and of course, what better motivation is there than Jesus? Homosexual anger about this study only leads me to one conclusion. Radical gay activists don't WANT gays to be able to change their sexual orientation, because if that is possible (and I firmly believe that it is), then that makes every gay person personally responsible for his or her actions. It negates the pitiful, "pious" and pathetic proclamation "Well, I didn't have any choice in the matter. I was born like this."
Once the study is more fully validated, gays have to stop playing the "blame game," and start accepting personal responsibility. But true to form, rather than do that they have launched ad hominem
attacks against Spitzer's professionalism, implying that his personal philosophy has crept into his scientific research and has led to bias. Quoted in advocate.com, McFeeley comments that "A look at Spitzer's own comments reveal his bias on this topic. Spitzer opposes same-sex marriage, opposes the right of gay and lesbian people to adopt children, opposes the right of gay and lesbian people to serve in the military, and believes that homosexuality is not a normal condition.'"
My answer to that is "So what?" Spitzer's own personal biases
in no way indicate bias in his scientific research.
The same analogy runs true for liberal, non-Christian reporters writing
stories about Christians in the media. Can conservative Christians trust
the way these folk report on us when their philosophy of life is so different
from ours? Sure, as long as their
personal philosophy doesn't creep into their reporting! Exodus Board Member (Exodus is a ministry to homosexuals) Alan Chambers correctly told Charisma News Service that gay activists will do everything they can to discredit the study. "But," he said, "you can't ignore this."
Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter. The shelter web site is www.joyjunction.org. He was honored with the prestigious Jefferson Award in 1994. Reynalds emigrated from England to the United States in 1978 and became a naturalized American citizen in 1998. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico. He is married with five children. He may be reached by e-mail at reynalds@joyjunction.org .
Note: A JPEG black and white picture of Jeremy Reynalds can be obtained from Dan Wooding at e-mail assistcomm@cs.com . ** You use this story with proper attribution.