Gay Genes and Hate Crimes

Well, this is more than  interesting:  it's important because it goes to the heart of the truth of many claims that underlie the positions people have taken on the political issues before us.

American Psychological Association: No "gay" gene

A decade or so ago (1998) the APA (American Psychological Association) released a brochure titled ""Answers to Your Questions about Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality" that contained the following statement: "There is considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality."

However, they have just released a new brochure  and it appears that they have backed off of that somewhat. The new statement says: "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles..."

The former President of NARTH ( National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality), A. Dean Byrd,  Ph.D., MBA, MPH had this comment on the APA's new position: "Although there is no mention of the research that influenced this new position statement, it is clear that efforts to 'prove' that homosexuality is simply a biological fait accompli have failed." He went on to say: "The activist researchers themselves have reluctantly reached that conclusion. There is no gay gene. There is no simple biological pathway to homosexuality."

If homosexuals aren't born that way, then it follow that some homosexuals can change their sexual orientation if they want to.

Charlie Butts quotes

Peter LaBarbera, who heads Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, believes the more recent statement is an important admission because it undermines a popular theory.

"People need to understand that the 'gay gene' theory has been one of the biggest propaganda boons of the homosexual movement over the last 10 [or] 15 years," he points out. "Studies show that if people think that people are born homosexual they're much less likely to resist the gay agenda."
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"It's irrefutable from a medical standpoint that people can leave the homosexual lifestyle," he argues. "Homosexuality is defined by behavior. Untold thousands of people have found freedom from that lifestyle through either reparative therapy or through -- frankly, most effectively -- a relationship with Jesus Christ."

That there are such political agendas is confirmed by one famous homosexual Andrew Sullivan who wrote with respect to the hate crime legislation now pending in Congress

The real reason for hate crime laws is not the defense of human beings from crime. There are already laws against that - and Matthew Shepard's murderers were successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in a state with no hate crimes law at the time. The real reason for the invention of hate crimes was a hard-left critique of conventional liberal justice and the emergence of special interest groups which need boutique legislation to raise funds for their large staffs and luxurious buildings. Just imagine how many direct mail pieces have gone out explaining that without more money for HRC, more gay human beings will be crucified on fences. It's very, very powerful as a money-making tool - which may explain why the largely symbolic federal bill still hasn't passed

One of the big issues that is being pushed is the hate crime legislation already approved by the House and now pending in the Senate, Senate Bill 1105, Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  It's also called the "Pedophile Protection Act" because the definition of "gender identity" is not defined and an amendment to exclude pedophiles from the definition was defeated.

I'm against all hate crimes period.  If it's a crime, it should be punished, period.  I see no difference whether a husband kills his wife, the immigrant down the street or the gay at a bar.  It's murder.  Adding the gloss of 'hate' is only an invitation for the government to intervene arbitrarily in some cases not others, based on what they perceive to be in the mind of the perpetrator.  It's mind-reading.  It's a thought crime.

The pending bill which adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity"  to an already existing flawed law would make it even worse.