Posted on 11/23/2008 7:06:32 AM PST by JosephSmithNAW
Let us, for a moment, rewind to the year1970. In this year, same-gender sex activists began a program of intimidation aimed at the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Activist Frank Kameny states the movement’s objective clearly, “I feel that the entire homophile movement…is going to stand or fall upon the question of whether or not homosexuality is a sickness, and upon our taking a firm stand on it…” (The Gay Crusaders, by Kay Tobin and Randy Wicker, p. 98)
In 1970, psychiatrists generally considered sexual desires toward members of one’s own gender to be disordered. Karoly Maria Kertbeny’s term, “homosexual” was the official descriptor for those inflicted by this mental-physical disassociative disorder. Psychiatry’s authoritative voice influenced public opinion, which at the time was negative toward same-gender sex. Of course, public sexual activity in parks and public restrooms contributed to societies negative views about the types of people that did such things, but “scientific opinion” was crucial in the public attitude.
Led by radicals like Frank Kameny, same-gender sex activists attacked many psychiatrists publicly, as Newsweek describes, “But even more than the government, it is the psychiatrists who have experienced the full rage of the homosexual activists. Over the past two years, gay-lib organizations have repeatedly disrupted medical meetings, and three months ago—in the movements most aggressive demonstration so far—a group of 30 militants broke into a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Washington, where they turned the staid proceedings into near chaos for twenty minutes. ‘We are here to denounce your authority to call us sick or mentally disordered,’ shouted the group’s leader, Dr. Franklin Kameny, while the 2,000 shocked psychiatrists looked on in disbelief. ‘For us, as homosexuals, your profession is the enemy incarnate. We demand that psychiatrists treat us as human beings, not as patients to be cured!’” (Newsweek, 8-23-71, p.47)
Ironically, at the very moment Franklin Kameny was claiming that same-gender sex was healthy, safe, and natural, a deadly virus was silently passing through communities of men all over the nation as a result of the promiscuous, unhealthy nature of the sex they were having. Only a decade later, thousands of men would be dead or dying, of AIDS.
On June 7, of the following year, 1971, Franklin Kameny wrote a letter to the Psychiatric News threatening the APA with not only more, but worse, disruptions. In this letter he states, “Our presence there was only the beginning of an increasingly intensive campaign by homosexuals to change the approach of psychiatry toward homosexuality or, failing that, to discredit psychiatry.” (The Gay Crusaders p. 130-131)
Same-gender sex activists continued to pressure the APA through 1973. A same-gender sex magazine, The Advocate, talks of “…what happened in 1973…referring to the widespread protests by the gay and lesbian community that led to the APA’s dropping homosexuality from the DSM.” (The Advocate, 12-28-93, p.40) As a result of the pressure, in the words of the prominent journalist and same-gender sex activists, Andrew Sullivan, in December of 1973 the APA, “…under intense political pressure…removed homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders…” (Love Undetectable, book by Andrew Sullivan, 1998, p. 107) Under this “intense political pressure” the APA’s board of trustees finally caved in to the demands of same-gender sex activists. Another same-gender sex activist Mark Thompson writes, “Just before the first of the year, the American Psychiatric Association’s board of trustees declared we were no longer sick.” (The Long Road to Freedom, ed. by Mark Thompsan1994, p. 97)
(There is more in the link)
Exactly.
I had hoped the sense in which the word ‘normal’ was being used would be clear from the context of the article I cited. I posted the clarification from the dictionary just to clear things up
If they aren’t sick, and it’s a predisposed condition, why do they have to recruit others? I saw this done at a local high school. It was the final straw right before I pulled my son out of there.
I don't understand the question. If by "recruiting others" you mean coming on to them, they do it for the same reason that I (a heterosexual male) used to "recruit" girls in high school--because I found them sexually attractive.
All I know is that when someone tells me homosexuality is bad because it’s not “normal,” or not “natural” (rape is natural), I just shrug.
Give me a real argument.
“...What difference does it make? I’m not arguing that homosexuality is good. I’m just pointing out that to call it so simply on the basis that it isn’t normal makes no sense. There is no intrinsic value to normality...”
I am simply stating a fact. I not moralizing the subject. There are physical differences in the brains of homosexuals. That is the point of my statement.
Red hair is ‘abnormal’? Pray tell what is ‘normal’ hair color?
You are mixing apples and oranges. There is intrinsic value to normative ranges of biologic function. Ask any diabetic or better yet, hold your breath for 5 minutes. You will quickly learn the intrinsic value of normal levels of carboxyhemoglobin.
Homosexuality is a deviation from normal sexual stimulation. Regardless of any PhD opinion, that is simply common sense. A specie cannot continue to reproduce and exist if all its members practice homosexuality. Other factors may contribute, but the driving force is abnormal brain function.
That does not make these people any less valuable to society nor do they deserve scorn. One of my dearest friends and former supervisor is a retired Marine Officer with 3 combat tours in Nam. He’s also gay; been with the same partner for 20 years. His partner is a scientist with NASA. They are valuable, productive citizens.
If the abnormal act itself is not enough to make it wrong, than what is?
I didn't claim to personally think it was wrong, though as a heterosexual, I do find it disgusting. Of course, as homosexuals, they presumably feel the same way about heterosex.
I'm just pointing out that if people want to convince me that it is, they'll have to come up with better arguments than "it's not normal" or "it's not natural."
Freud said it is part of sexual maturation to be first pre-occupied with auto-eroticism, then perhaps a fleeting interest in and identification with others of the same gender, and finally sexual maturity that enables one to have a fulfilling relationship with the opposite sex.
"Recruiters" seek to suspend teens in the phase where they are curious about their own bodies and others like them. They seek to have teens quickly identify as homosexual if they have even a scintilla of attraction to anyone of the same sex for any reason and never move on to heterosexual relationships.
I don't understand how they could be so angry about people not accepting their behaviors when they are protesting while they are naked, or wearing leather bondage gear, or busting into churches during their masses or services by throwing condoms in parishioners faces while two women French kiss each other on the church's altar. I don't see anybody in the homosexual community condemning these behaviors either. If you aren't condemning it, than you are condoning it.
Being naked in public, in front of small children while doing disgusting things to each other is WRONG!
When the protests were happening in the civil rights movement, the black protesters were fully clothed and not doing their best Caligula impression while trying to get their point across.
That is why I cannot help but to feel like the homosexual lifestyle is wrong and not about equal rights. It is more about people looking for a free pass on morally indefensible behavior. Behavior like public sex, nudity, promiscuity and violence towards anyone with a conflicting view point.
If a person feels like what they are doing is normal, than that should be good enough for them. Why do they have to go around convincing everybody that they are normal. they should just live their lives and be done with it. Why act like obnoxious disgusting asses to prove their point. They hurt their own movement when they do these things.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.
Yes, Freud said a lot of nonsensical things that have since been discredited. Few modern psychologists take Freud seriously.
I never had any sexual interest in or identification with others of the same gender, even fleetingly. I was born an extreme heterosexual. Your "recruitment" theory only works with bisexuals. Sorry, it still amounts to coming on to them for the purposes of having sex (just as I did with girls), not some kind of international gay conspiracy to expand their ranks.
I have to beg off here. I dont subscribe to the notion that what is natural is good and what is not natural is bad. Been this way since I was old enough to recognize the value of synthetic antibiotics.
I think "normal" is a useful concept when talking about health. In the context of what is bad or good, I see it as opinion. That may be worth something or even a great deal to the discussion, but it's hard to call it fact.
I agree. I certainly wouldn't defend their public behavior. I just don't think that "normality" is relevant to the discussion.
Thanks :)
Just remember, back up your arguments with facts (or say up front it’s an opinion), and don’t take anything too personally.
We are conservatives, first and foremost. Well, most of us are! ;^)
If you don't think there is an agenda or conspiracy, read "After the Ball" and "The Band Played On."
When I go to the West Coast Walk for Life, there are individuals and hand-holding same-sex couples milling through the pro-life crowd wearing pink or rainbow triangle pins emblazoned RECRUITER. Don't tell them there's no such thing.
p.s. Most modern psychologists think homosexuality is not a mental illness, nut that so-called homophobia is.
nut=but
Yes. But I never wanted to have sex with them. The thought would have disgusted me.
"Proof" to some of inclinations, even though you or I might not agree.
It's not proof of anything regarding your (or Freud's) "theory."
And I don't think that either homosexuality or "homophobia" are mental illnesses.
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