Proud letters
I'm so proud of my ke'chara.The Star published some very condemning and nonsensicle articles about homosexuals and homosexuality in Malaysia. The majority of the writers' circle have been in an uproar over it. And typically of my ke'chara, he has written a letter to the editor.
Dear Sir,
I refer to your series of articles on homosexuality "Helping homosexual persons resolve long-standing issues", "Circumstances may lead to homosexuality", "Homosexuality more about politics than biology" and "Changing sexual orientation through reparative therapy" published in the Star, Jan 12, 2004. I would like to point out the following.
Homosexual sexual orientation refers to an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional attraction to another person of the same sex (www.apa.org/pubinfo/answers.html). Sexual orientation should not be confused with sexual behavior or gender identity or culture.
Your article blames childhood experiences and parenting as a "cause" of homosexuality. People, whether gay or straight, might have undergone traumatic childhood experiences. However, it is questionable whether these experiences "caused" their sexual orientation. A large scale study in 1981 by Bell, Weinberg and Hammersmith [1] debunked the "bad parenting" theory as a "cause" of homosexuality.
Your article suggested that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental disorder purely for "political" reasons. Your article also suggested that gay people were unhappy due to factors intrinsic to their sexual orientation. A landmark study by Hooker in 1957 [2] found that being gay/lesbian/bisexual (GLB) is not hazardous to one's psychological health. This was corroborated by many extensive studies which revealed that there are no difference between GLB and heterosexual people in levels of maturity, neuroticism, psychological adjustment, goal orientation, or self-actualization [2-15]. On the contrary, GLB people face problems that are not inherent in sexual orientation itself but rather are due to society's negative responses [16-18]. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization also removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-10, in 1992.
Your article highlighted "heterosexual" marriage and birth of children as proof of "change" of sexual orientation. It is known that there are gay men who get into marriages with women and some have children even without undergoing "therapy". However, many realize, sometimes after decades, that being married to persons of the opposite sex gave rise to numerous serious problems affecting themselves and their families [19-24].
Your article suggested that the study by Dr. Spitzer [25] proved successfulness of "reparative therapy". I would strongly suggest that you reread the original paper carefully along with the accompanying commentaries. The author sought people who agreed to claim, in a single telephone interview, that their sexual orientation was changed due to "reparative therapy". He pointed out that the results could be due to construction of elaborate self-deceptive narratives or lies as no verification of the authenticity of the claims were carried out. Deceptive narratives in such emotionally laden area is known [26, 27]. Professor Beckstead cited a client who participated in a similar study as saying "I wanted to fit in and there was so much at stake. I wanted to boost my morale and tell others that I was doing well…I downplayed my sexuality. I lied enough so it would be believable to myself and the researcher."[25] The issue of causality was also not addressed. Numerous professionals noted that the subjects interviewed had vested interests, personal testimonies for the benefits of useless treatment abound, and the report could mislead people to believe that all homosexual individuals could be "heterosexual" if they just tried hard enough. Professor Hartmann from the Harvard Medical School, criticized the study as being too flawed to be published, likely to do harm, irresponsible and unscientific [25]. Harm from such "therapy" has been reported by others [28]. The "therapy" is considered ineffective, harmful and has been rejected by major professional bodies, not only the American Psychiatric Association but also by the Surgeon General of the United States, American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and the American Counseling Association. The dubious movement is exposed in a book by Besen WR [27] (www.anythingbutstraight.com).
Concerned doctor
References:
1. Bell, A., M. Weinberg, and S. Hammersmith, Sexual preference: Its development in men and women. 1981, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
2. Hooker, E., The adjustment of the male overt homosexual. J Projective Techniques, 1957. 21: p. 18-31.
3. Dancey, C.P., Sexual orientation in women: an investigation of hormonal and personality variables. Biol Psychol, 1990. 30(3): p. 251-64.
4. Gartrell, N., The lesbian as a "single" woman. Am J Psychother, 1981. 35(4): p. 502-16.
5. Hart, M., et al., Psychological adjustment of nonpatient homosexuals: critical review of the research literature. J Clin Psychiatry, 1978. 39(7): p. 604-8.
6. Herek, G.M., Gay people and government security clearances. A social science perspective. Am Psychol, 1990. 45(9): p. 1035-42.
7. Hooker, E., Parental relations and male homosexuality in patient and nonpatient samples. J Consult Clin Psychol, 1969. 33(2): p. 140-2.
8. Kurdek, L.A. and J.P. Schmitt, Interaction of sex role self-concept with relationship quality and relationship beliefs in married, heterosexual cohabiting, gay, and lesbian couples. J Pers Soc Psychol, 1986. 51(2): p. 365-70.
9. Pagelow, M.D., Heterosexual and lesbian single mothers: a comparison of problems, coping, and solutions. J Homosex, 1980. 5(3): p. 189-204.
10. Peters, D.K. and P.J. Cantrell, Factors distinguishing samples of lesbian and heterosexual women. J Homosex, 1991. 21(4): p. 1-15.
11. Ross, M.W., J.A. Paulsen, and O.W. Stalstrom, Homosexuality and mental health: a cross-cultural review. J Homosex, 1988. 15(1-2): p. 131-52.
12. Siegelman, M., Adjustment of homosexual and heterosexual women: a cross-national replication. Arch Sex Behav, 1979. 8(2): p. 121-5.
13. Stokes, K., P.R. Kilmann, and R.L. Wanlass, Sexual orientation and sex role conformity. Arch Sex Behav, 1983. 12(5): p. 427-33.
14. Thompson, N.L., Jr., B.R. McCandless, and B.R. Strickland, Personal adjustment of male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals. J Abnorm Psychol, 1971. 78(2): p. 237-40.
15. Gonsiorek, J., Results of Psychological Testing on Homosexual Populations. Am. Behavioral Sci, 1982. 25: p. 385-396.
16. Coyle, A., A study of psychological well-being among gay men using the GHQ-30. Br J Clin Psychol, 1993. 32(Pt 2): p. 218-20.
17. Savin-Williams, R.C., A critique of research on sexual-minority youths. J Adolesc, 2001. 24(1): p. 5-13.
18. Meyer, I.H., Minority stress and mental health in gay men. J Health Soc Behav, 1995. 36(1): p. 38-56.
19. Leddick, D., The Secret Lives of Married Men: Interviews with Gay Men who Played it Straight. 2003: Alyson Publ.
20. Klein, F. and T. Schwartz, eds. Bisexual and Gay Husbands : Their Stories, Their Words. 2001, Harrington Park Press.
21. Beemyn, B. and E.W. Steinman, eds. Bisexuality in the Lives of Men : Facts and Fictions. 2000, Haworth Press.
22. Buxton, A.P., The Other Side of the Closet : The Coming-out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families. 1994: John Wiley & Sons.
23. Gochros, J.S., When Husbands Come Out of the Closet. 1989: Harrington Park Press.
24. Grever, C., My Husband is Gay: A Woman's Guide to Surviving the Crisis. 2001: Crossing Press.
25. Spitzer, R.L., Can some gay men and lesbians change their sexual orientation? 200 participants reporting a change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation. Arch Sex Behav, 2003. 32(5): p. 403-17; discussion 419-72.
26. Duberman, M., Cures: A Gay Man's Odyssey. 10th. Ann. ed. 2002: Westview Press.
27. Besen, W.R., Anything but Straight : Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. 2003: Haworth Press.
28. Shidlo, A. and M. Schroeder, Changing sexual orientation: A consumers' report, in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2002. p. 249-259.
Complete with references! Isn't he amazing?!
Ke'chara, I'm so proud of you.
posted by Jennirhiow @ 11:10 am
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