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Homosexuals Can Change Their Orientation
Homosexual activists have long argued that their
sexual practices must be respected and accepted by society because
homosexuals are born that way and cannot change their orientation.
More and more research, however, indicates quite
the opposite. The most recent research was presented in May at the
annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. It came
from a very surprising source, Dr. Robert Spitzer, a psychiatrist
who is currently Chief of Biometrics Research and Professor of Psychiatry
at Columbia University in New York, N.Y. Dr. Spitzer Is a surprising
source because, in 1973, he was instrumental in assisting the American
Psychiatric Association to end the classification of homosexuality
as a mental disorder in need of treatment.
In his recent study, Dr. Spitzer interviewed 200
subjects (143 men and 57 women) who reported that they had changed
their sexual orientation from homosexuality to heterosexuality after
undergoing counselling and that they had maintained the change for
at least five years. The report stated:
Most of the subjects said their religious faith
was very important in their lives, and about three-quarters of the
men and half of the women had been heterosexually married by the time
of the study. Most had sought change because a gay lifestyle had been
emotionally unsatisfying. Many had been disturbed by promiscuity,
stormy relationships, a conflict with their religious values, and
the desire to be (or to stay) heterosexually married.
To Dr. Spitzer's surprise, 67% of the men reported
good heterosexual functioning even though they had rarely or never
felt any opposite-sex attraction before the change process.
In regard to his study, Dr. Spitzer stated:
Contrary to conventional wisdom, some highly
motivated individuals…, can make substantial change in multiple
indicators of sexual orientation and achieve good heterosexual functioning.
He added:
… change from homosexual to heterosexual
is not usually a matter of "either/or," but exists on
a continuum - that is, a diminishing of homosexuality and an expansion
of heterosexual potential that is exhibited in widely varying degrees.
Dr. Spitzer's research is believed to be the most detailed investigation
of sexual orientation change to date. Dr. Spitzer warned, however,
that his study should not be used to justify coercive treatment,
or as a basis for the denial of civil rights. But, he said, "I
believe patients should indeed have the right to explore their heterosexual
potential."
The current president of the American Psychiatric
Association and a psychiatrist at the University of California at
Los Angeles, Dr. Daniel Borenstein was quick to dispute Dr. Spitzer's
findings. He stated, "There are a group of people who think
all homosexual behaviour must be changed… and they try to impose
their values, which is inappropriate." However, in Dr. Spitzer's
study, it was the homosexuals themselves who wanted to change because
their homosexual lifestyle had been emotionally unfulfilling. Many
had been disturbed by their promiscuity and stormy relationships,
had experienced a conflict with their own religious values and had
a genuine desire to be (or stay) heterosexually married. It is not
unreasonable, therefore, that they should be helped, if it
is something they want and are highly motivated to achieve.
Meanwhile, Dr. Spitzer has been the subject of
volatile rage by homosexual activists. He was forced to cancel a
press conference, citing concern for his family. Homosexual activist
groups that had once lauded Dr. Spitzer as a groundbreaking scientist,
are now attacking his credibility by falsely portraying him as a
pawn of pro-family groups. This is hardly the case. Dr. Spitzer
is a self-confessed atheistic Jew who is on record for supporting
homosexual activists and their issues. The fact that he dared to
contradict the activists' propaganda on purely scientific, rather
than ideological grounds, is an indication of how little the activists
respect truth (or science).
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