Is Homosexual Change Possible?
By Cindy M.

The subject of homosexuality is a subject most people would like not to discuss. It does exist as the media has brought the subject to the living rooms of all Americans in the past decade or so. How many times have we heard homosexuals are born that way? The media has stated that homosexuality is genetic and therefore change is impossible; however, the scientific world says change is possible.

Robert Epstein found out quickly how some feel about homosexual change after a small ad was run for a book called “A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality” in Psychology Today. After receiving about 120 letters and a threatening phone call, he subsequently wrote the article “Am I Anti-gay?” in Psychology Today. In the article, he tells of the phone caller’s remarks, “that no gay person had ever successfully become straight, that homosexuality was entirely determined by genes, and that sexual conversion therapy had been condemned by the American Psychological Association” (7). Can homosexuals change? The media has instilled in the minds of Americans homosexuals are born gay due to a genetic gene; therefore, it is impossible for change to occur. Does this reasoning hold up? What does the research say?

There has been scientific research; the media has reported their interpretation of the findings. Some of the media, however, are changing their position. Matthew Brelis of the Boston Globe states, “The research project in 1993 that indicated many gay men shared a common genetic marker in the X chromosome was hailed as a momentous scientific discovery—one that would help society to transcend bigotry, heal family wounds, and lay to rest the nagging question: Is sexual orientation genetic?” (C1).

Interestingly enough, Brelis says later, “Six years later, however, the gene still has not been found, and interest in—and enthusiasm for—the “gay gene” research has waned among activists and scientists alike. And there is a growing consensus that sexual orientation is much more complicated than a matter of genes” (C1). Have you heard “the gene still has not been found” statement on the six o’clock news? The statement “more complicated than a matter of genes” indicates scientists do not think genes are the answer to sexual orientation.

The medical society confirms Brelis’ statement. Eugene F. Diamond, MD defines advocate science in Ethics & Medicine, “This consists in the propounding of so-called “scientific” claims or rejecting counterclaims based not on the quality of objective data involved but rather on a hidden political agenda or a desire for political correctness”. He continues with its current use, “The principal occasion for the employment of advocate science is in research regarding the etiology and the treatment of homosexuality or same-sex attraction disorder. The media promotes the idea that a ‘gay gene’ has already been discovered, and certain professional organizations have not discouraged this assumption” (133). Brelis perhaps reports the most damaging remark from Dean Hamer himself, who led the X chromosome research, as Hamer states he “believes a gay gene does exist and will be found within fives years” (C1). Obviously, the gay gene has not been found. Stanton Peele, in his article in Psychology Today, also addresses Hamer’s study, “that focused on a supposed homosexual gene. Hamer found a possible genetic marker” (50). He continues with issues with the study, “Hamer did not check for the frequency of the supposed market in heterosexual brothers, where it could conceivably be as prevalent as in gay siblings. Hamer has noted that he doesn’t know how the market he found could cause homosexuality” (50). All studies must have a control group and this one did not have the heterosexual control group required to validate the study.

Simon LeVay conducted the Hypothalamus Study concluding the brain’s hypothalamus was smaller among gay than heterosexual men were. Christine Gorman of Time describes the study, “All 19 homosexual men had died of AIDS. So had six of the 16 presumed heterosexual men and one of the six women” (60). This study too has issues as Gorman later addresses, “Many technical aspects of the study are subject to question, as the author concedes. He cannot be certain, for instance, that all the heterosexual men in the control group were heterosexual. And since the AIDS virus attacks the brain, the size difference could be an artifact of the disease” (60). She then quotes Anne Fausto-Sterling, professor of medical science at Brown University, “My freshman biology students know enough to sink this study” (60). The results of this study are not worthy of factual data.

Another widely publicized study is the twin study done by Dr. Richard Pillard. This was a study of twins and sexual orientation. As summarized by Brelis, the “research showing that sexuality is greatly influenced by environment, and that the role of genetics is, in the end, limited” (C1). Even if one buys into the existence of the “gay gene,” which has not been found as stated by Hamer, the role of this undiscovered proposed “gay gene” is limited if discovered by the results of this one study alone. Diamond states, “If same-sex attraction were solely genetically determined, then one could expect identical twins to be identical in their sexual attractions. Most studies, however, show that identical twins are discordant in their sexual attraction” (133). Further issues with this and other studies are the absent studies that duplicate these studies’ results. Duplicating the studies with

similar results is a necessary requirement to determine the results as fact. To date, duplicate supporting studies do not exist for any of these studies. What is the conclusion of these findings? The environment influences the homosexuality of a person. Homosexuality is a behavior disorder and treatment of behavior disorders is possible. Homosexual change is possible.

The phone caller to Robert Epstein of Psychology Today indicated the American Psychological Association had condemned sexual conversion therapy. Is this statement true? Epstein addresses this statement saying, “The APA has never condemned sexual conversion therapy but has merely issued cautionary statements, one of which reminds psychologists of their obligation to “respect the rights of others to hold values, attitudes and opinions that differ from [their] own” (7). Contrary to the caller’s belief, psychologists can and have given therapy to homosexuals who want to change their sexual orientation and it is not condemned. A person with any type of disorder has the right to seek the help of a therapist.

Has sexual-orientation change ever occurred? Four prominent studies support change has occurred as summarized by People Can Change, a website designed to address all aspects of homosexual change. The first study, Homosexuality and the Possibility of Change Project, indicated that of 2,252 clients, 563 or 25% did change. The second study, NARTH Survey of Reparative Therapy Clients, found 581 men and women out of the 882 or 61% did change. The third study, NARTH Survey of Therapists, found 2,350 of 9,702 or 24% did change. It is interesting to note that 40% of the therapists surveyed had an average of 61% change. The fourth, Spitzer Study, found that of 200 individuals 119 or 60% did change (2). People Can Change quotes Dr. Warren Throckmorton in a June 2002 issue of Professional Psychology, “My literature review contradicts the policies of major mental health organizations because it suggests that sexual orientation, once thought to be an unchanging sexual trait, is actually quite flexible for many people, changing as a result of therapy for some, ministry for others and spontaneously for still others” (6). People Can Change also did a survey of 200 men who did change from homosexual to heterosexual to determine the most significant causes of their developing homosexual feelings in their own lives. The results are as follows: Father-son relationship problems, conflict with male peers, mother-son relationships, sexual abuse, other sexual experiences and personality traits (11). As indicated by those who did change, the environment does influence the development of homosexual feelings.

Sexual-orientation change can happen if the homosexual is willing to go down a difficult road to acquire the change. The difficult change will be time consuming as with the change of any behavior disorder. As with other behavior disorders, change does not always happen but it is possible. The third study results also indicate the therapist chosen can also be a significant factor in the possibility of change. The documented converted homosexual to heterosexual is the biggest discovery of all. Since homosexuals do exist and converted homosexuals do exist you can only conclude genetics does not render homosexuality. It is not surprising the enthusiasm has disappeared for gay gene research.

You can believe homosexuality is genetic and change is impossible as portrayed by most of the media and much of society; or you can go to the scientific studies. The genetic cause studies have not proven genetics as a cause of homosexuality and the homosexual change studies have shown homosexuality change is indeed possible. The decision is yours.