HEARTBEAT NEWS

The gay activists blame the undeniable problems from which homosexually active persons suffer on social discrimination, which they label "heterosexism" and define as the belief that sexual relations between a man and a woman are normal and should be privileged by society and those between persons of the same sex are abnormal. Gay activists insist that such a belief is the equivalent of racism and should be stamped out by a massive anti-bias education campaign. They are well aware that this would require changing language, literature, laws, social customs, and religious beliefs throughout all societies.

Even if they were to succeed in this gigantic enterprise, homosexually attracted children would still feel different than their non-homosexual parents and peers. Homosexual acts still could not create children. Education can't change these facts and anecdotal evidence suggests that an aggressive educational program may produce an unintended backlash. The vast majority of people, even those experiencing homosexual attractions do not want to be homosexually attracted. A substantial portion of the population are repulsed by the very idea of homosexual acts, indeed many homosexuals report initial repulsion to the behavior. The majority of parents do not want their children to be homosexually active.

What can be changed is the homosexual condition. It can be prevented and treated.

2. CHOOSING OUR WORDS

The words "homosexual" and "heterosexual" were made up in the 19th century. Unfortunately the public has come to believe that human beings can be divided into permanent and stable categories based on their unalterable sexual orientation. When we use the words "heterosexual" and "homosexual" as nouns or to define a person as in "homosexual man," we are perpetuating that misconception. Therefore, when I write I try to replace the word "homosexual" used as a noun with other terms -- terms which remind people that we are all either male or female. Changing language requires discipline. I continually come across examples in my own writing where I fell into using homosexual as a noun. It is sometimes extremely difficult to find the right term for the context. Here are a few suggestions.

When writing in a religious context: "Men and women who experience homosexual temptations" or the broader category of "persons experiencing sexual brokenness."

When writing in a medical context: "Men who have sex with men." In terms of the spread of disease, those who are not having sex with men are not at risk.

When writing in a psychological context: "Men and women who experience same-sex attractions" or "men and women with homosexual attractions."

When writing about the political struggle: "Gay activists." Since "gay" and "lesbian" refer to men and women who hold a particular ideological view of sexuality, "ex-gay" -- that is a person who has renounced that ideology -- is an appropriate term.

When they use "gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered," we can respond with "men and women suffering from gender identity problems." In particular, we need to focus attention on the abuse of the medical process known as sex reassignment. As a woman, I resent the idea that cutting off a man's private parts and pumping him full of hormones makes him a woman. Every cell of his body still contains DNA which reads "male." The fact that transsexuality is extremely hard to treat after adolescence is all the more reason to encourage early identification and treatment of Gender Identity Disorder.

Of course never use any of the insulting terms, since these reflect badly on the user.

Instead of "heterosexual", whenever possible I use "men and women". When reporting on research, it is important to distinguish between a sample that includes men and women in general and one in which the men and women who do not experience same-sex attraction or engage in same-sex relations are separated from those who do.

3. THE RIGHT TO THERAPY

Those of us engaged in the battle against the gay agenda are too often forced into a defensive position because our opponents have defined the issues -- gay rights, hate crimes, gay marriage, gays in the military, gay youth suicide, gay scouts. In order to succeed in turning the tide, we need a carefully crafted communication strategy. We need a strategy that is easily defendable and easily understood, one where we have the high ground. At this moment such a strategy could be based on a strong defense of THE RIGHT TO THERAPY

It is very clear that gay activists are trying to make therapy for same-sex attraction illegal. In a Washington Times opinion piece (December 28,1999), Dr. Laura Schlessinger wrote that she had received "hundreds and hundreds of letters from doctors and therapists, as well as from ad hoc groups of mental health professionals, who are frightened to offer any support to homosexuals seeking ways to normalize their sexuality, because of 'official' positions from their various professional associations."

The attacks on those who provide therapy for homosexually attracted persons or even support the idea that change is possible are spreading around the world. The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has come under attack from gay activists for promoting "an American-based fundamentalist Christian group [Courage] which believes the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians can be changed by prayer and therapy." The Archbishop was warned by Michael Kelly, spokesman for the Rainbow Sash, that simply mentioning the possibility of change could drive homosexuals to "the brink of despair and suicide."

The heart of the gay activists' communication strategy is that homosexuality is an unchangeable condition. They insist that therapy doesn't work, even though they know that it can. They attempt justify their claim by defining success in absolute terms: before treatment the person must have never experienced opposite attraction or engaged in heterosexual relations and after treatment the person must be totally heterosexual in behavior and never have another same-sex thought or temptation for the rest of his life. It would be equivalent of saying that no diet program works unless the person never gains back one ounce and is never tempted to indulge. The gay activists know that the majority of homosexually active persons have had some heterosexual experience, so this gives them an out. They can say that those who change weren't really "homosexual." The activists also admit when pushed that change of behavior is possible. They pretend that therapy is directed only to changing behavior, even though the therapists and support groups consider a person to have succeeded in changing only when the sexual attraction patterns are also altered. Many people coming out of homosexuality consider celibacy is a worthy goal, but gay activists refuse to consider a person changed unless they are heterosexually active. In no other area of psychological healing is treatment denied because the therapist can't guarantee an absolute and total cure. Do therapists refuse to treat depression because the client might some time in the future have a blue day?

However, even if the gay activists' narrow criteria for success were accepted, their claim that there are no reports of change in the literature is false. Robert Goetz, New Directions Ministries in Toronto reviewed of 17 published studies and found reports on 44 individuals who had been exclusively or predominantly homosexual and experienced a full shift of sexual orientation.

Warren Throckmorton, who reviewed the literature on modifying sexual orientation, found that those gay affirming researchers, who had reported that such efforts rarely succeeded, neglected to include a number of significant studies. Throckmorton concludes: "Narrowly, the question to be addressed is: Do conversion therapy techniques work to change unwanted sexual arousal? I submit that the case against conversion therapy requires opponents to demonstrate that no clients have benefited from such procedures or that any benefits are too costly in some objective way to be pursued even if they work. The available evidence supports the observation of many counselors -- that many individuals with same-gender sexual orientation have been able to change through a variety of counseling approaches." [Throckmorton, M. (1996) Efforts to modify sexual orientation: A review of outcome literature and ethical issues. Journal of Mental Health and Counseling. 20, 4: 283 -305.]

While the facts are on our side, we have to present those facts in a way which is easily understood and accepted. A communications strategy requires a number of elements: Theme, Spokespersons, Target, Repetition.

THEME -- THE RIGHT TO THERAPY

Tragically we live in an age, where the majority of people today do not understand the concept of natural law. Their understanding of human psychology has been distorted by the media and they react negatively to words like tradition, truth, morality, sin, and right and wrong. But they do support the idea of "rights." Therefore, we need to be for "rights." People have the right to know that therapy is available and to receive therapy which respects their religious and moral convictions.

We can point out the irony that the same professional organizations, which oppose individuals' right to choose therapy to designed to change their pattern of sexual attraction, support the right of men suffering from the delusion that they are women to have their genitals cut off, even though genital mutilation does not always succeed in alleviating the client's psychological problems and cannot change the fact that every cell in his mutilated body remains indelibly marked male.

Homosexually active men and women may choose therapy for a variety of reasons. They may belong to a religion that regards same-sex activity as a sin. They may have found the homosexual lifestyle unfulfilling. They may wish to marry and have children. Given that 50% of men who have sex with men will, according to epidemiologists, become infected with HIV or another potentially fatal disease, they may wish to protect their health. Whatever the reason, why can't they make this decision? Why shouldn't they be informed about the various forms of therapy available and the potential for success?

Because the gay activists know that information about therapy successes undercuts the their public claim that homosexuality is an unchangeable attribute. The success of some makes those won't try feel bad. The availability of therapy sends a message that homosexuality is something from which a number of people want to be free.

The writings of the gay activists who oppose therapy reveal that their ultimate goal is the destruction of "heterosexism," defined as societal attitudes which favor the sexual union of men and women. In pursuit of a non-heterosexist world they are willing to sacrifice the rights of individuals who want out of homosexuality.

SPOKESPERSONS - THOSE WHO HAVE COME OUT OF HOMOSEXUALITY

A communication strategy requires spokespersons. We have the testimony of brave souls who have succeeded in coming out of homosexuality. Although many of them prefer to simply live their new lives, a few have been willing to speak out for the truth that real change is possible. We need to let them speak for themselves, to listen to them, and to tell their stories.

So far as possible, religious leaders, therapists, pro-family activists, and political conservatives need to step into the background. One Ann Paulk is worth a thousand Jerry Falwells. When asked to give a quote or appear on TV, the spokespersons for conservative values should refer the media to acknowledged leaders of the ex-Gay movement. We can thank God that at this moment we are blessed with men and women who have experienced freedom for a number of years.

We must be careful to recommend only those who have been in recovery for some time and who are associated with solid groups. Recovery takes time and premature media exposure can be dangerous for individual.

TARGET - THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WHO HAVE CAVED INTO PRESSURE

If we are for therapy, who is against it? A small group of extremists who have taken over professional organizations, in particular the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association. These takeovers were effected by threats, demonstrations, the shouting down of opponents, and the misuse of research. In his book "Homosexuality and American Psychiatry: The Politics of Diagnosis," Ronald Bayer provides a clear account of the politics behind the decision to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Bayer's book is a must read for those who are involved in this issue not because Bayer is on our side, indeed he supports the gay activists' agenda, but because he reveals what really happened. According to Bayer: "The result was not a conclusion based on an approximation of the scientific truth as dictated by reason, but was instead an action demanded by the ideological temper of the time."

We have to be very careful not to sound as if we are against ordinary homosexually attracted men and women. They are victims. They have the right to refuse therapy, but we have a duty to protect those who want therapy and to let those who are confused know that a number of forms of therapy are available.

In this regard, we need to stress the importance of freedom of religion. Those who believe that all homosexual acts are condemned by God have a right to therapy which respects their belief and helps them to find freedom from unwanted sexual feelings. On the other hand, if, because of pressure from professional associations, a time comes when therapy to change a person's pattern of sexual attraction is only available from religious counselors and religion-based support groups, men and women who are not religious will be denied the help they need. Therefore, the right to non-religion based therapy for same-sex attraction must be defended.

The unprofessionalness of the professional organizations which discourage therapy and the researchers they use to back up their statements must be exposed. This can be done by showing through direct quotes how they have abandoned objectivity, promoted the sexual liberation agenda, opposed religious freedom, and become tools of gay militants. The public needs to be constantly reminded that the American Psychological Association was censured for promoting a defender of pedophiles and that Kinsey, their favorite researcher and his institute, protected pedophiles.

REPETITION

In order for a communication strategy to work, the public must hear the same clear simple message over and over. This takes time, at least a year, probably 2 or 3. It takes discipline to remember when you are speaking, writing on the subject, or just talking to friends to repeat the key phrase "I support the right to therapy for homosexually attracted individuals." It is even better if the statement can be backed up with personal experience "I know people who have come out of homosexuality, you should talk to them."

Repetition will work if members of support groups, religious organizations, pro-family activists, conservative political action groups, and therapists around the world informally agree to use the same language.

Those who have not seen the evidence for change may reference the files marked "Change" on Dale's Disk or contact Exodus International in Seattle or Regeneration Ministries in Baltimore MD. These organizations can supply a list of books and pamphlets containing testimonies of those who have come out of homosexuality.

Many people find Jeff Satinover's book "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth" to be the most compelling presentation of the subject. He writes"...in the eight years between 1966 and 1974 alone, just the Medline database -- which excludes many psychotherapy journals -- listed over a thousand articles on the treatment of homosexuality... These reports clearly contradict claims that change is flatly impossible. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say that all the existing evidence suggests strongly that homosexuality is quite changeable. Most psychotherapists will allow that in the treatment of any condition, a 30 percent rate may be anticipated."

4. RESPONDING TO GAY ACTIVISM

Those who favor homosexual equality -- treating same sex relationships as though they were in every way equal to opposite sex relationships in marriage -- are staging a full court press: pushing for gays in the military, gay scouts, gay marriage, gay educational programs, gay adoption, and gay surrogate parenting, plus directly attacking Exodus, Courage, and reparative therapy. This week there was an article on gay priests with AIDS which received a great deal of publicity. On the positive side there have been a number of excellent articles opposing the gay agenda, one by Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe, a column by Mona Charen and two columns by Mackubin Thomas Owens, on gays in the military in the Providence Journal. On the other hand, the gay agenda is being promoted world wide. Just this week I received word of initiatives in Australia, Canada, Europe, and South Africa.

The gay agenda is succeeding because the public is convinced that homosexuality is genetically determined and unchangeable. While each separate attack must be addressed, unless the underlying falsehood is addressed the activists will succeed in undermining societal respect for the family, natural law, and all Bible-based religion.

The problem for those who defend the truth is that truth is infinitely more complex that the lie. Same-sex attraction does not have a single cause and, because each person who experiences same-sex attraction and/or engages in same-sex behavior has a unique history, no one remedy is appropriate for all.

For Christians chastity according to one's state in life is the appropriate goal, not the substitution of heterosexual sins for homosexual sins, but freedom from sexual sin. Not all of those who come out of homosexuality will marry. Some of those who come out of homosexuality feel that they are called to celibacy. For others marriage is simply not an option.

Dr. Laura, the radio psychologist, has initiated a dialogue on the question of therapy and change with Dr. Robert Spitzer who, as chair of the APA's Task Force on Nomenclature, was highly influential in the decisions dealing with homosexuality. I have heard that he will be on 20/20 Friday talking about the treatment of homosexuality and is looking for testimonies of people who have come out of homosexuality through therapy, but not through religious support programs. I wonder if this is not like looking for people who have come out of alcoholism through therapy and not through AA.

In the 1920's therapists tried and failed to cure alcoholism, this did not mean that there was no way to effectively treat the problem, but that the problem required a different and more comprehensive approach. The 12 step program of AA proved successful where therapy had failed, but even so many of those who come to AA do not succeed in maintaining sobriety. No one, however, suggests that AA should be disbanded because it doesn't succeed with everyone. Those who come to AA are encouraged to attend 90 meetings in the first 90 days and to "keep coming." Doesn't it stand to reason that the far more complex problem of homosexuality may require an even more holistic approach -- daily support, psychological insight, inner healing, and spiritual counseling.

I envision the recovery process as slow and moving in stages: first freedom from the sexual behavior with others; then freedom from compulsive fantasy and solitary sexual activity; in the next stage, strong temptations would still occur in moments of stress, but gradually these would become less frequent, and the person would become more able to resist them. Finally, opposite sex attractions might or might not appear spontaneously after a number of years. Recovery can be complicated by a history of sexual child abuse, deep rejection from parents and peers, multiple addictions and substance abuse. In a few instances, the person may suffer from other psychological problems such as social anxiety or borderline personality disorder which need to be addressed separately.

I would very much like to hear from those who have come out of homosexuality about what works and what doesn't.

Most of all we must encourage everyone to pray for those struggling with same-sex temptations.

5. LIFE EXPECTANCY OF HOMOSEXUALLY ACTIVE PERSONS

In the last few weeks I have received several questions about the life expectancy of homosexually active persons as compared to that of the general population. Paul Cameron, William Playfair, and Stephen Wellum published an article "The Longevity of Homosexuals: Before and After the AIDS Epidemic"in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying. (Vol. 29, issue 3, pages 249 - 272) and many of the published statements on this subject are probably based on this research. I suggest that anyone interested in this topic obtain a copy of the original article.

The research has been criticized for drawing conclusions not totally justified by the method. The problem is that the study compares obituaries in gay newspapers to those in general newspapers and there is no way to judge if the selective obituaries in the gay papers are comparable to the complete list of deaths found in an ordinary newspaper. It is possible that many homosexuals drift out of the active homosexual community as they age and return to their families or to solitary lives and thus are at the time of death in old age no longer considered "gay." However, the fact that 6,570 obituaries of homosexual men and 163 of homosexual women were studied provides interesting, if not conclusive, evidence that being homosexually active and "out" carries risks.

What conclusions can be drawn from Cameron et al's exhaustive review of obituaries? 1) There is an amazing dearth of obituaries of homosexuals over 65; and 2) a large number of homosexuals die young from accidents, violence, and disease. Particularly chilling is the list of the ages, occupations, and causes of death on homosexual men who did not die of AIDS and of lesbian women. One is struck by the number of murders and suicides. Given the high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, suicide, and domestic violence among homosexually active persons, the contention that homosexually active persons have a dramatically shortened life expectancy is certainly justified. In the list of causes of death, there are numerous cases of death from cancer, heart disease, and respiratory failure in persons under 45. A number of STDs have been linked to cancer, in particular hepatitis B and C and human papilloma virus both of which are epidemic in the gay community. There is also some research to suggest that the common sexually transmitted disease chlamydia may be a causal factor in some forms of heart disease. Thus, some of these deaths may be linked to homosexual behavior. Cameron et al also present a review of other studies suggesting a dearth of homosexually active persons over 65.

I personally would not use the statistic that life expectancy for homosexual men without AIDS is 41, but I would feel confident quoting the actual findings of the review of obituaries, in combination with the massive research on the high rates of STDs, substance abuse, violence, and suicide among homosexually active persons.

[The research was updated in the Dec. 1995 edition of Family Research Report.]

6. SUICIDE STUDIES

In its October issue Archives of General Psychiatry published two studies on the relationship between suicide and homosexuality and three commentaries on these studies by experts in the field. In an elegantly designed co-twin study Herrell et al found that men with same-sex partners were 6.5 times as likely as their co-twins to have attempted suicide. The higher rate was not explained by mental health or substance abuse disorders.

The second article reported on a New Zealand birth cohort study, which has followed 1007 individuals since birth. Fergusson et al found that, at age 21, the 28 classified as gay, lesbian or bisexual were significantly more likely to have had mental health problems than the 979 classed as heterosexual. The following is an excerpt from a chart included in the report:

	GLB	HETERO
Suicidal Ideation	67.9%	29.0%
Suicide Attempt	32.1%	7.1%

Psychiatric disorders age 14 -21
Major depression	71.4%	38.2%
Generalized anxiety disorder	28.5%	12.5%
Conduct disorder	32.1%	11.0%
Nicotine dependence	64.3%	26.7%
Other substance abuse/dependence	60.7%	44.3%
Multiple disorders	78.6%	38.2%

In other words at age 21 the GLB portion of the cohort has significantly more problems in every category.

In a commentary, J. Bailey, who has published a number of studies on homosexuality, wrote: "Several reactions to the new studies are predictable. First, some mental health professionals who opposed the successful 1973 referendum to remove homosexuality from DSM-III5 will feel vindicated. Second, some social conservatives will attribute the findings to the inevitable consequences of the choice of a homosexual lifestyle. Third, and in stark contrast to the other 2 positions, many people will conclude that widespread prejudice against homosexual people causes them to be unhappy or worse, mentally ill. Commitment to any of these positions would be premature, however, and should be discouraged. In fact, a number of potential interpretations of the findings need to be considered, and progress toward scientific understanding will be achieved only by eliminating competing explanations."

After looking at a number of other explanations Bailey concludes, "It is unlikely that any one of these models will explain all of the differences in the psychopathology between homosexual and heterosexual people. Perhaps social ostracism causes gay men and lesbians to become depressed, but why would it cause gay men to have eating disorders? Two things are certain, however. First, more research is needed to understand the fascinating and important findings of Fergusson et al and Herrell et al. Second, it would be a shame — most of all for gay men and lesbians whose mental health is at stake — if sociopolitical concerns prevented researchers from conscientious consideration of any reasonable hypothesis."

What can we learn from these studies? First, these studies confirm that when the general population is studied the percentage of homosexually active or self-identified persons is low - 2.8% of the 1007 in the New Zealand study (20 people who self-identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and 8 others who reported same-sex experience after age 16). Of the 6,537 men in the Herrell et al study only 120 reported any same gender partners (1.8%).

Second, contrary to the claims made by gay activists, homosexually active persons as a group are not as psychological healthy as the general population.

Even if the cause of these problems could be proved to be societal oppression resulting in internalized homophobia as claimed by gay activists (which is highly unlikely), the question remains: "What is the proper response?" If homosexual attraction were an untreatable, unchangeable condition, then treating internalized homophobia would be the only remedy, but given the massive evidence that homosexual attraction can be prevented and in many (but admittedly not all) cases successful treated then, given the risks associated with homosexual attraction, shouldn't homosexually attracted persons and parents of children at risk be informed of their options? At the least, shouldn't treating homosexuality be offered as an option?

Reference:

"Sexual Orientation and Suicidality," Archives of General Psychiatry, Oct. 1999, Vol. 56, No. 10, pages 867 - 888. -"A Co-twin Control Study in Adult Men" by R. Herrell, J. Goldberg, W. True, V. Ramakrishnan, M. Lyons, S. Eisen, M. Tsuang.;
"Is Sexual Orientation Related to Mental Health Problems and Suicidality in Young People?" by D. Fergusson, L. Horwood, A. Beautrais.;
"Homosexuality, Psychopathology, and Suicidality," R. Friedman.;
Suicide and Sexual Orientation," G. Remafedi.

7. AGE OF CONSENT - REASONS WHY LOWERING THE AGE OF CONSENT FOR HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS WILL CAUSE SEVERE HARM TO AN ALREADY VULNERABLE POPULATION

Governments routinely restrict the activity of children and adolescents in order to protect them. Laws governing driving, drinking, smoking, and sexual activity have included arbitrary age limits. Setting such limits involves weighing the risks against the liberty rights. In most cases protection of the minor has taken precedence over the minor's liberty to engage in high or even moderate risk behavior.

In several countries gay activists are pushing for a lowering of the age of consent for homosexual sex. In some places it is higher than the age of consent for heterosexual sex. The question which needs to be addressed is: Does homosexual sexual activity between adults and adolescents 16 to 18 carry risks sufficient to justify the criminalization of such behavior? Does such sexual activity carry more risk to the minor than heterosexual activity?

The answer to both questions is yes. The evidence is overwhelming. The following report summarizes an extensive body of literature which demonstrates conclusively that criminalizing homosexual activity between adolescents and adults represents a reasonable public health policy. Many of the article referenced report high rates of multiple problems associated with homosexual activity for adolescents 16 to 18.

THE RISK OF INFECTION WITH HIV OR OTHER STDS

Epidemiologist estimate that one out of two men who have sex with men will eventually become HIV positive. (Hessel 1989)(Hoover 1991)( Morris 1994). Men who begin to engage in sex with men at an earlier age are more likely to seroconvert (become HIV positive) and to seroconvert earlier. A study of 425 men age 17 to 22 who engaged in sex with men found that 15.2% of the 79 who began this activity before age 15 and 11.6% of the 224 who initiated the activity age 15 to 19 were already HIV-positive. (Lemp 1994) The risk of seroconversion is higher for men under 30.(Osmond 1994)(Remafedi 1994) The older a homosexually active man is the more likely it is that he will be HIV positive.(Rotello 1997)

Adult men who have sex with male adolescents 16 to 18 are more likely to be HIV positive, because they are more likely to engage in sexual activity in public or semi-public places, to engage in sexual activity with persons they do not know, to engage in sex while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, to engage unprotected anal sex, and to have multiple sexual partners. Those homosexually attracted men who are at low risk for HIV -- those in long-term committed relationships, those who do not combine drug and alcohol use with sex, and those whose sexual activity usually involves autoeroticism -- are also less likely to engage in sex with adolescents.

There is no evidence that safe-sex education has significantly reduced the risks. (Stall 1988) (Kelly 1991)(Gold 1992) While men who have sex with men are more likely to use condoms than they were in the past, the number of infected men has risen to the point where an occasional failure to use protections or failure of the protection to work properly will result in a cumulative infection rate of 50%.(Kelly 1987)

Men currently being infected are more likely to be infected with a strain of the virus which is resistant to one or more of the drugs used to control the disease. (Little 1999)(Boden 1999) The risk for homosexually active adolescent males is extremely high.(Goldman 1994) (Brown 1997)(Stiffman 1990) Because contact tracing and other normal public health measures for preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases are not used to control the spread of HIV, restricting adult/adolescent homosexual activity is a prudent means of protecting this extremely vulnerable population.

Adolescents who have sex with men are also at risk for other serious and in some cases potentially fatal diseases, including: Hepatitis A, B, and C, Human Papilloma Virus (which can cause cancer), Chlamydia (some forms of which have been linked to heart disease), Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Gay Bowel Syndrome, Herpes (including Herpes 8 which is the cause of Kaposi's Sarcoma. (Zenliman 1988) Many of these diseases are on the increase. There is also the risk of injury from unusual sexual practices.

PROSTITUTION AND RUNAWAYS

Adolescent boys 14 to 18 who have sex with men over 21 are frequently runaways or prostituting themselves for drugs, money, or being kept by the older person. Most male prostitutes who service men are in this age category. If the age of consent is 18, it is not necessary to prove an exchange of money only that the prostitute was under age. Prostitution is psychologically and physically dangerous.(Coleman 1989) (Rotheram-Borus 1992) (Savin-Williams 1994)

The following quote from Kruks (1991) illustrates the vulnerability of adolescents to homosexual exploitation:

SEXUAL ABUSE AND RAPE

A large percentage of adolescents 14 to 18 who engage with sex with adults have been victims of sexual abuse as children or rape. (Furnold 1978) (Janus 1984) (Martin 1988) (Allers 1991) The abuser may have been an adult, family member, or older child. Due to low self-regard, the victim may not always have recognized the abuse as abuse. A adolescent who was sexually abused or raped may be especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation by an adult.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR

Adolescents who are homosexually active are highly likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. (Remafedi 1987) (Shifrin 1992) (Rotheram-Borus 1994) (Garafalo 1998) This leads to unsafe sexual behaviors and risk taking. Adults wishing to engage in homosexual sex with an adolescent often offer drugs or use substances to lower resistance.

SEX WITH STRANGERS AND SEX IN PUBLIC PLACES

Much of the sexual activity between adolescents and adults takes place in public or semi-public places, between strangers or people who have met for the first time immediately before sex. (Roesler 1972) This type of sexual activity carries an extremely high risk of infection with STD and violence.

COMING OUT ANXIETY AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY

Adolescents 14 to 18 experiencing same-sex attractions are in an emotionally vulnerable position. They feel isolated and confused. In some cases their first sexual relationship provokes intense emotions. Almost none of these first relationships are permanent and the adolescent can be left emotionally devastated. Suicide attempts sometimes follow the breakup of first relationships.(Lock 1998)

A number of gay-affirming therapists have written extensively on the problems associated with "coming-out" as a homosexual. (Cates 1987) (D'Augelli 1993) Their analysis suggests that in many cases normal social and emotional development is delayed and the homosexually attracted young adult responds in ways more appropriate to a young teenager. This suggests that higher age restrictions represent a reasonable means of protecting a vulnerable population from exploitation and high risk behavior.

SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

Two new and well designed studies have found that adolescents self-identified as homosexual are more likely to have suicidal ideation and to attempt suicide than non-homosexually identified adolescents. (Herrell 1999) (Fergusson 1999) Numerous other studies have found similar vulnerability (Remafedi 1991) (Hershberger 1995) (Kournay 1987) These adolescents are already at high risk and need to be protected from adults who would exploit their vulnerability.

PEDERASTY

The pederast is a adult male who is attracted to adolescent boys. The adult who is attracted to adolescents is usually not interested in a permanent relationship, but expects that the current boy will be replaced with another adolescent. Attraction is to the age group. Most pederasts are attracted to boys who have not sexually matured - age 12to 15. Keeping the age of consent at 18 prevents the pederast from claiming that he thought his victim was 16. It is very difficult to confuse an 12 year old with an 18 year old. While numerous studies have shown the negative effects of adult/child sex (Finkelhor 1993) (Bagley 1994), pederasts and their supporters have argued that adult/adolescent homosexual activity is not always damaging to the adolescent (Sandfort 1984) (Bauserman 1991) (Rind 1998) and have advocated the lower of the age of consent. (Mirkin 1999)

ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE CONFUSED OR EXPERIMENTING

A substantial number of adolescents who engage in same-activity later decide that they are not homosexual. Experimentation between peers in one thing, but an adult seducing a confused or vulnerable adolescent into a homosexual relationship is another. The adult may try to convince a vulnerable adolescent that he is permanently and unchangeably homosexual because he is physically aroused by homosexual activity.

REBELLION AGAINST PARENTS

Adolescence is a period of breaking away from parental rules. In some case adolescents may declare they are homosexual or engage in homosexual behavior as an act of rebellion (Barnhouse 1977). An adult who encourages this rebellion and then takes advantage of the adolescent can deepen the already existing problems.

REFERENCES for AGE OF CONSENT

The following articles are referenced in "Age of Consent." Many of the articles contain a litany of problems associated with adolescent homosexuality. Rather than repeat the citations over and over, each reference is associated with just one section.

8. SPEAKING THE TRUTH WITH LOVE

Cardinal Francis George, the Catholic archbishop of Chicago, chose in spite of pleas from pro-family Catholics, to address the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries, which met in his archdiocese in October. According to published reports, he then surprised his audience by his unqualified support of the Christian teaching on sexuality: "Church's teaching, the teaching of Jesus Christ, from Divine Revelation [is that] the gift of human sexuality is oriented toward uniting a man and woman in marriage for life, for their own unity in Christ , and for the giving of new life to children." "That teaching," he said, "will not change because it cannot change, based as it is in faith and in human nature itself." "To deny that the power of God's grace enables homosexuals to live chastely is to deny, effectively, that Jesus has risen from the dead."

The courage of Cardinal George and the recent meeting between gay activists and the Rev. Jerry Falwell represent an authentically Christian approach to the problem. Hopeful these actions will encourage other religious leaders to speak the truth with love.

9. ATTACK ON EX-GAY MINISTRIES

I was asked to comment on the paper "Why reparative therapy and ex-gay ministries fail" by Kim Mills, Education Director of the Human Rights Campaign (Aug. 1998). Ms. Mills' report was written as a response to the highly successful ad campaign featuring men and women who have come out of homosexuality. Although Mills quotes a number of sources which say that it impossible to come out of homosexuality, the existence of people who have proves that these sources are incorrect. (Those who would like to reviewed the massive, documented evidence of change will find a list of some of the studies in the files marked "Change" on Dale's Disk.) The errors in this piece go far beyond simple ignorance.

Mills attacks the consistent teaching of scripture, as held by Jews and Christians for over 3,000 years, namely that all sexual activity outside marriage, including adultery, fornication, incest, and homosexuality, is contrary to God's law. She writes: "These organizations [ex-gay ministries] selectively cite the Bible as proof that homosexuality is a sin." In fact, ex-gay ministries hold that homosexual acts are sinful, because the scriptures allow no other conclusion.

That said, believers have only two options to live celibately or to seek healing. It is the duty of the Church to offer its prayers and support to all those struggling with sexual temptations. Mills reviews the sad history of those who sought healing and then fell back into homosexual behavior. If programs which offer help are not as successful as they should be, then the Church needs to pray harder and to work harder to find approaches which are more likely to be successful. As the existing programs mature, we are seeing more people achieve freedom. No self-help or 12 step program can promise that everyone who comes to them will persevere. Contrary to Mills' contention a number of the studies on treatment include follow-up information and document change of attraction pattern not just behavior.

Mills information is out of date. She quotes Fr. Harvey, founder of Courage, as believing that change is impossible. It is true that when he began his ministry to homosexually tempted persons, Fr. Harvey did not want to promote a false hope or encourage quick marriage. Freedom from sinful behavior was a sufficient goal. Over the years, Fr. Harvey has recognized that many of the members of Courage want to achieve the freedom to marry. Courage now supports those whose goal is complete freedom from homosexual desires, not just freedom from homosexual behavior.

Those who wish to explore the possibility of change because they wish to marry and have children or because they wish to avoid contracting one of the infectious diseases spread by homosexual contact among men, have a right to know about and receive mental health care. Believers have a right to mental health care which respects their religious convictions.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending Regeneration's 20 anniversary dinner. Regeneration is a ministry bringing healing to homosexuals and others suffering from sexual brokenness in the Baltimore MD area. The next day I spoke at the Day Seven Ministries conference in Pennsylvania, on the absolute necessity of forgiveness.

I was blessed to see that how many of those who have come out of homosexuality have achieved stability and maturity. Their witness is essential in the battles that are ahead. They need our unfailing support and our prayers. I have found that I can give people all the facts, but when they meet someone who has come out of homosexuality, they finally understand.

10. REAL MISINFORMATION

Review of Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, by William Pollack (1999) NY: Holt.

This book, which has made the NY Times best seller list, is one of those by a liberal who has discovered the obvious -- namely that boys are different from girls. This insight might be welcomed were it not accompanied by a chapter on homosexuality which is irresponsibly inaccurate.

Chapter 9 "Being 'Different': Being Gay" repeats the false information routinely disseminated by gay activists and references discredited studies. For example Pollack writes: "being gay is not something that mental health professionals should attempt to change (or that they can change)." Notice that the "should" is placed before the "can". The fact is that therapy to deal with homosexual attractions can be successful, and young boys and their parents have a right to know this.

After rejecting the overwhelming evidence of the effect of early childhood experiences in the formation of same-sex attraction, Pollack references the discredited 1953 study of identical twins by Kallman. Kallman reported that 100% of the identical twin males he studied were concordant for sexual orientation. A number of studies since then, studies which Pollack should be aware of, found that identical twins are often discordant for sexual orientation and Kallman later admitted his study wasn't statistically projectable.

After encouraging parents to accept their son's homosexuality, Pollack then goes on to discuss the risks of AIDS and push for more sex education. Studies on the efficacy of education aimed at encouraging men who have sex with men to use "precautions" has determined that, in spite of almost universal knowledge of the ways to avoid infection, for the foreseeable future 50% of men who have sex with men will become HIV positive.

Pollack arrogantly disseminates false information and in doing so puts the boys at risk.

The Massachusetts News reported June 14, 2001:t

Research of Harvard Psychologist Seriously Flawed, Perhaps Fraudulent

Students at Belmont Hill School Thought It Was a ‘Farce’

The research that made Harvard psychologist William Pollack a famous expert on American boys and frightened American parents and educators is seriously flawed, if not fraudulent, according to people familiar with the study. It became the basis of Pollack’s bestseller, "c." ...

Full text of that article and links to many related ones

11. AMERICAN BISHOPS SUPPORT VATICAN ACTION

CLEAR AND CONSTANT TEACHING

On July 13, 1999, Cardinal Ratzinger's office, with the approval of John Paul II, issued a notification that is extremely important to all those struggling to promote the truth about homosexual acts and inclinations. The notification states:

The notification reviews the unsuccessful attempts by church leaders to obtain from these two individuals interior assent to the authentic teachings on homosexuality. Nugent and Gramick claim to be treating homosexual persons "with respect, compassion and sensitivity", but the notification points out that,

During the recent meeting of the American bishops, supporters of Nugent and Gramick held a press conference and presented a petition signed by 4,500 Catholic religious and 50 religious congregations calling on the American bishops to ask the Vatican to reconsider the notification. Bishop Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston issued a 4 page response in the name of the full body of bishops defending the notification.

THE APPLICATION OF THE NOTIFICATION TO ALL IN MINISTRY

What applies to Nugent and Gramick must logically apply to all those engaged in ministry to homosexually tempted persons, all those who teach theology in Catholic schools at any level, and all those who teach on issues involving marriage and sexuality. Therefore, Catholics have the right to ask that all in such positions give interior assent to the following:

It may be that some of those who support Nugent and Gramick do so because they believe the gay activist propaganda that homosexual attraction is genetically determined and unchangeable. The teaching authority of the church has not taken a position on the causes or treatment of homosexual inclination, since regardless of the cause or potential for change all persons are called to live chastity according to their state in life. However, those who question the clear and unchangeable teaching on this matter may be helped toward acceptance by being exposed to the substantial and credible evidence that homosexual attractions are rooted in childhood experiences and can be prevented and treated.

BROADER EFFECTS

The effect of the notification and the support given it by the American bishops spreads beyond Catholic schools and ministries. Public schools may not discriminate on the basis of religious belief. In a number of areas of this country, school boards have adopted policies condemning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. These policies are sometimes implemented in a manner that discriminates against students who hold orthodox religious views.

The gay activists hold that homosexual acts and homosexual relationships are in every way equal to those between men and women and that to deny this is to be guilty of anti-gay bigotry, bias, invidious discrimination, homophobia, and/or heterosexism. The notification of July 13 makes it clear that religious freedom requires that students not only be allowed to hold the belief that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil and homosexual inclination an objective disorder and that this teaching is unchangeable, but that they also be allowed to voice this opinion in public without fear of retribution of any kind. This, of course, doesn't in any way justify verbal abuse or violence against homosexually attracted persons.

The gay activists argue that the mere voicing of such beliefs causes emotional damage to homosexually attracted students and faculty and they are undoubtedly correct. Being confronted with the teaching that one's behavior is sinful is never a pleasant experience, but freedom of religious includes the right of religious groups to articulate and promote their understanding of the moral law. If the schools choose to embark on an open discussion of the question of the morality of homosexual acts, they cannot exclude one side on the grounds that it is religious and then promote a moral view that demeans the religious beliefs of the students.

Furthermore, a number of other religions, agree in whole or in part with the Catholic teaching on homosexuality. Therefore, any educational program which demeans these beliefs constitutes a threat to the religious freedom of the students and cannot be tolerated.

Freedom of religion is one of the most precious human rights, protected by national constitutions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Parents and those groups who defend religious freedom need to vigilantly monitor educational institutions and other government-run institutions to assure that freedom of religion in this area is protected.

12. BOY SCOUTS

The Boy Scouts will undoubtedly appeal the ruling of the New Jersey court, which denied the organization the right to define the meaning of their own oath and set standards for membership. According to Judge Handler's concurring opinion, the NJ decision is based on a desire to eliminate discrimination. He writes: "One particular stereotype that we renounce today is that homosexuals are inherently immoral." According to the judge "Such stereotypes, baseless assumptions, and unsupported generalizations reflecting a discredited view of homosexuality as criminal, immoral and improper are discordant with current law and public policy. Accordingly, they cannot serve to define contemporary social mores and morality."

While having homosexual inclinations is not in itself immoral, engaging in homosexual acts is. The NJ courts do not have the right to decide what is or is not moral. Their attempt to do so is a direct attack on freedom of religion. I would be happy to help anyone working on a brief in favor of the Boy Scouts and hope that many religious organizations will do so.

However, briefs are not enough, we need to educate the public on the impact of the decision on religious freedom -- religious freedom must include the right to say that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil, the homosexual inclination is objectively disordered, and this teaching will not change, to do so publicly, and to base policy decisions on this belief.

Other arguments can also be made. For example, a review of the research on self-identified "gay" adolescent boys produces substantial evidence that these boys are at high risk for a number of problems (suicide substance abuse, disease, conduct disorders) . Membership in the Boy Scouts by openly "gay" boys would probably not in the best interests of the boys. They need professional help -- help the ordinary troop leader cannot provide.

13. FREEDOM OF RELIGION THREATENED

According to a story by Frank York, World Net Daily, the leaders of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago sent a letter to Paige Patterson, head of the Southern Baptist Convention expressing concern that evangelistic efforts associated with the planned Southern Baptist convention in Chicago next summer might spark violence and hate crimes.

Bishop Joseph Sprague of the United Methodist Church's Northern Illinois Conference worries that preaching against homosexuality "creates a climate in which hate can fester." According to a 1998 report from the Women's Division of the United Methodist Church: "An example of giving societal permission to engage in violence against gay and lesbian people is the recent media campaign with the misleading slogans of 'Truth in Love' and 'Hope not Hate.' Such slick campaigns, though couched in seemingly kind and Christian words, promote bigotry."

Besides vigorously defending freedom of religion, I think we also need to do some research on anti-homosexual violence. According to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, in the U.S. in1998, 2,552 were identified as anti-homosexual, of these 110 required inpatient hospitalization. (New York Times 7 April 1999) I have seen a few anecdotes which suggest that such violence is committed by young men who have a history of sexual molestation by males, substance abuse, violence, and general anti-social behavior. In other words, these do not appear to be young men who have spent a great deal of time in Church or who are influenced by religious messages. In some cases homosexual men are seen as easy prey for robbers because they are willing to accompany a total stranger into a secluded place. For example, in Lincoln RI a man well-known to the bar-going homosexual community was found murdered in his home. He had spent the evening drinking in a bar and police speculate that someone he took home murdered him.

Someone needs to review the records of "anti-homosexual" violence and interview the incarcerated perpetrators, since a next year will undoubtedly see another push for "hate crime" legislation.

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