Homosexuality and Mental Health

Ryan Sorba's Blog ^ | January 12, 2012 | Ryan Sorba

[fwdude]

It was never a medical decision—and that’s why I think the action came so fast…It was a political move…That’s how far we’ve come in ten years. Now we even have the American Psychiatric Association running scared.
-Barbara Gittings, Activist

Getting Started

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) currently considers same-sex attraction a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder –if one is marked by persistent distress about their “sexual orientation.” The disorder is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV TR (DMS-IV TR) as a paraphilia, euphemistically entitled, “Sexual Orientation Not Otherwise Specified.”

Psychiatrists began to use this clunky phrase to refer to homosexuality in 1987, after compromising with radical activists for more than a decade about what constitutes politically-correct verbiage. Negotiations have centered primarily on how to balance the demands of radical political activists with the right of the individual patient to self-determination, which requires that psychiatry leave the doors open to treatment and implies that homosexuality is in fact a mental disorder.

[fwdude]

When a child of a high profile public personality “comes out,” the child pretty much has the upper hand; he can cause as much disruption as he wants, which will reflect poorly on the public figure, who has the most to lose. It is usually the path of least resistance to “go along to get along” and preserve his career. Chaney did this, as have several other politicians.

It’s really a pernicious form of extortion.

[Hildred Castaigne]

As far as psychology -what is notmal?

Scientifically? There is no such thing as "normal", not as you or I would perceive it from a belief standpoint. "Normal" is just the mean and median of the data points, graphed along a bell curve.

Is it not what is predominantly observed in society, that incorporated historically and culturally -objectively when looking at arbitrary things, that which is not self destructive?

No, not really. I mean, it used to be "normal" for Catholics to force Protestants to convert at sword point, and on failing to do so, burning them alive at the stake for heresy. I wouldn't call that not self-destructive. But it was certainly for the time.

Homosexual sex is abnormal AND self destructive individually and societally

From a belief, religious, and cultural standpoint, I don't disagree. I would disagree that it has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt from a scientific and mathematical viewpoint - which is what wins you court cases.

[Hildred Castaigne]

The physical and psychological damage done by homosexual behavior is an open secret to those who are honest enough to examine the data. The CDC and FDA contain a wealth of information relating to the verifiable risks associated with male-to-male homosexual behavior, and other sources document similar hazards, both behavioral and physical, of lesbian activity. The anecdotal observations merely confirm the hard evidence, and blow away the carefully crafted facade of almost "gay supremacy" that the entertainment and news media would have you believe.

OK. Assume that I agree with you. Now let me ask one question.

When pro-marriage proponents have been challenged to produce this FDA/CDC data court, they have never been able to do so, most famously in the Prop 8 case. WHY have they not done so? Is it because of incompetence?

[DBeers]

When pro-marriage proponents have been challenged to produce this FDA/CDC data court, they have never been able to do so, most famously in the Prop 8 case.

Could you refer me to some reference as to your evidence lacking assertion? It is my understanding that Prop 8 was voted upon and became the law of the land UNTIL a judge set it aside. There was no need to defend it with evidence -it was those that wanted to overturn it that had the burden of proof. As well, when something is appealed there is no new evidence presented -the facts of the case remain as documented from the lower court.

[DBeers]

No, not really. I mean, it used to be "normal" for Catholics to force Protestants to convert at sword point, and on failing to do so, burning them alive at the stake for heresy. I wouldn't call that not self-destructive. But it was certainly for the time.

YES REALLY -you stated as much yourself: "Normal" is just the mean and median of the data points, graphed along a bell curve." Normal people do not express love by engaging in self destructive intrinsically disordered activity...

[Hildred Castaigne]

Probably because it was. Sorry, but the Hooker study is one I've reported on a few times and it should have been discredited at the outset. I'm not the only one here who's reported on it either. I'll see what I can find.

Thank you! :) I'll look forward to seeing it (and discussing it). I like a good back-and-forth.

[Hildred Castaigne]

Just a long-time lurker, new-time poster.

[Hildred Castaigne]

This and the other two links are good stuff. I’m going to be reading and responding in depth; this is just to let you know that I’m not ignoring you.

[scripter]

When pro-marriage proponents have been challenged to produce this FDA/CDC data court, they have never been able to do so, most famously in the Prop 8 case. WHY have they not done so?

I don't know if that's been an issue as the data from the CDC is quite accessible:

Diagnoses of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2009
Diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2008
Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2007
Cases of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2006
Cases of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2005
Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States, 2004 (Published in 2006)
Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States, 2003
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Risk, Prevention, and Testing Behaviors --- United States, National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System: Men Who Have Sex with Men, November 2003--April 2005
HIV among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
HIV/AIDS among Women

I'm on the CDC mailing list. There's more. A lot more.

[scripter]

Thanks for the note. I probably won’t reply due to time constraints. Still, if you read the Hooker data already provided you will realize Hooker’s work is based on faulty and incorrect data.

[longtermmemmory]

how about the recent report about rectal cancer on the increase? (it is a soap and water issue among a certain group)

[longtermmemmory]

there is no love test for marriage.

in fact no law has a “love test” (or orgasm test, or happiness test, or god test, or sexual activity test)

this propaganda stunt of ANY two (group?) wanting to live in a “loving committed relationship” is just a fiction created for the weak minded judge.

Believing in a “born gay” gene is akin to the easter bunny or tooth fairy.

[scripter]

That doesn’t sound familiar to me which means nothing, I’m just too busy with work and my kids. Will check it out later.