The easy answer is no. There is no incontrovertible evidence that sexual desire for
persons of the same sex is genetically determined, if by genetically determined one means
that there is a part of the human DNA code which determines "sexual orientation"
and which can be either heterosexual or homosexual. Homosexuals are not born that way. God
did not make them that way.
But, it is also true that homosexuality is not chosen. There is no evidence that the
homosexuals wake up one morning as say to themselves: "I think I'll choose to feel
sexual attraction for a person of the same-sex rather than the opposite sex." The
general consensus in the psychiatric community before the advent of gay rights advocacy
was that same-sex attraction was the result of a development disorder which began in early
childhood and which manifested itself in adolescence as a sexual attraction to persons of
the same sex. In this context, it is important to remember that while we speak of
homosexuality as though it were a single thing, in fact it is more likely that it is a
symptom of a number of different problems and given the complexity of the human person can
have a multitude of causes.
Homosexuality is born in trauma. Something caused a developmental deficit.
It is also true that certain physical characteristics can put a child at risk. These
physical characteristics do not cause the child to desire sexually persons of the same
sex, but they create conditions under which the child may be treated differently than
other children by parents or others and may therefore develop the symptom of same-sex
attraction.
The homosexual community and the media seem intent on confusing the public as to the
difference between characteristics of the person which are "genetically determined
and those which are "influenced by inherited physical traits." For example, if a
characteristic is genetically determined, then identical twins will be identical and
fraternal twins will be no more likely to share the same trait than siblings. When Michael
Bailey and Richard Pillard. studied homosexuals who were twins they found that among the
monozygotic (identical) cotwins if one was homosexual, then 52% (29/56) of the other twins
were homosexual. Among the dizygotic (fraternal) twins, in 22% (12/54) of the cases both
were homosexual. Among the nontwin biological siblings, 9.2% were homosexual and 11% of
the adoptive brothers were homosexual. [Note]
Bailey and Pillard concluded, "These data care consistent with heritable variation
in prenatal brain development or in some aspect of physical appearance that, by way of differential
parental treatment, leads to differences in sexual orientation." Clearly, the
data do not substantiate "genetically determined," yet the press continues to
promotes the idea of a "gay gene" and homosexual activists talk about "born
that way." [Note]
Some therapists have suggested that particularly sensitive boys are more likely to
become upset by parental discord and more likely to defensively detach from the father
than placid children. Therapists have also found that extremely pretty boys are more
likely to mistaken for little girls and if this misidentification is accepted by the
mother, the boy may be feel that his mother "wants" him to be a girl, that there
is something wrong with being a boy. In most cases, there are a number of factors working
together which create a pattern that leads to same-sex attraction in adolescents. This
also means that there is hope that interrupting this pattern can prevent the development
of same-sex attraction Because gender identity develops between ages 1 and 5, particularly
between 2 and 4, the adult homosexual who has never developed his masculine identity may
rightly say, "I have always felt different. I was always a homosexual." Since
opposite sex attractions develop as the result of the development of a confident correct
self-identity as male or female, they are right in feeling that they never had a
heterosexual identity, but this doesn't mean that they didn't have the potential.
Can all homosexuals develop their heterosexual identity? The problem is complicated by
a number of factors. First, a substantial number of homosexual adults report sexual
experiences during childhood which could be considered as incidents of extreme sexual
abuse. A number report engaging in sexual activity with adults or older children over a
long period of time before the age of 10. Many homosexuals report that these were
"positive" experiences. Second, many report auto-erotic behavior often combined
with pornography which could be considered obsessive. Thus the underlying developmental
problem is complicated by sexual addiction/compulsion and identification with the
aggressor. Third, the child may have been teased, isolated, ridiculed, or suffered other
problems such as extreme shyness which interfered with normal same-sex relationships.
Recovery requires addressing all the aspects of the person's problem. They may need
insight based therapy and a process of healing of deep wounds. The addictive and
compulsive behaviors must be overcome and this can require faithful membership in a
support group based on some form of the 12 step approach. The person may need to establish
healthy non-sexual relationships with others of the same sex or mentoring relationships
with same-sex adults. In addition, spiritual renewal appears to be almost indispensable.
Because development difficulties involved in homosexuality are complicated in many
cases by addiction, recovery is difficult and time consuming. Every experience effects the
brain, building up patterns of thinking, reacting, and remembering. Such patterns cannot
simply be erased. Therapy cannot produce amnesia. Like any addict, in a moment of stress,
the homosexual may remember that he has an easy way to relieve that stress and so
temptation may continue to be present.
Reparative therapy does not focus on making the homosexual male desire women, but on
building up his masculine identity. As this is accomplished, opposite sex attractions may
appear quite spontaneously. Much more research is needed on the various kinds of therapy
and recovery programs, but the studies that have been done confirm that recovery is
possible at rates comparable to those reported for treatment of other psychological and
addictive problems.
When homosexuals say they have tried to change and can't, it is very like alcoholics
before AA was widely known feeling hopeless about the possibility of recovery. We can
discover which programs work, but that doesn't mean that everyone can or will work the
program.
| Note: |
Claims of a "homosexual gene" have now been thoroughly debunked. |
|
See: No "homosexual gene" can be found,
new
study says. |
|
| The Boston Globe reported in February [1999] that the media-ballyhooed "gay
gene" theory was already in trouble. The Globe article featured the findings of
Dr. Richard Pillard, a professor of psychiatry at Boston University's School of Medicine,
whose twin studies showed "that sexuality is greatly influenced by environment, and
that the role of genetics is, in the end, limited." (Full
story) |
|
|
However, there is much more to it than that. See also Dale O'Leary's
review of Twin Studies. —WHS |
