Homosexuality: Genetic, Disorder, Choice?
Why more people are believing it is a choice.
The idea that homosexuality is a genetic component born into certain people that they are not responsible for responding to is losing ground. A recent article by the Alliance Defense Fund highlights the various organizations that are reaching out to homosexuals, and seeing them reach back.
The primary focus of the article is on the nonprofit evangelical organization Joseph’s Coat Ministries, whose founder, Chris Delany, is a self-described “ex-gay” who decided that he was “willing to give faith another chance.”
Delany spent 12 years as an openly homosexual man and, after numerous boyfriends and gay bars realized that he was miserable and needed to change his life. So he embarked on what he calls a “lengthy spiritual transformation in which he was sexually reoriented.” And now, fifteen years, one wife, and two children later, Delany uses his former life as a tool to reach out to others that are struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction. (Read the story: Faith Said to Change Sexual Orientation here)
And I for one am thankful for Mr. Delany and the Joseph’s Coat Ministry, along with others such as the Pennsylvania based Harvest USA, Exodus International, and Focus on the Family’s Love Won Out Ministry. The mere fact that there are so many ministries reaching out to homosexuals, and that these ministries are expanding because of growing demand suggests that it is possible for a homosexual to change his or her lifestyle.
Many of these organizations are using what’s called “reparative” therapy to help people deal with unwanted same-sex attractions. And not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Richard L. Pimental-Habib, an openly gay clinical therapist says, “It doesn’t make sense on any level. The ultimate result is that it doesn’t work.” And David Kaplan, with the American Counseling Association, says “We do not know of any situation where a homosexual has been converted to heterosexuality. What you can do is you can change behaviors…”
Well that just seems to be the point doesn’t it? If homosexuality is not genetic and is instead a choice, then it seems necessary to help people make an alternate choice; to change their behavior. And, quite frankly, it makes perfect sense, on many levels. People are not kidnapped and forced into the programs at these organizations. They come willingly because they don’t want the same-sex attractions that they are feeling. They want to change. And to say it doesn’t work is a slap in the face to the many people that have changed their lifestyle and are no longer homosexual.
It seems that with more people learning about the Flawed Arguments About Gay Marriage, and the reasons Why Marriage is Inherently Heterosexual that the pro-gay community is seeing its chances for legalized same-sex marriage slip away. This all comes as a result of the growing disdain for the idea that homosexuality is a genetic, in-born component of a person that is unavoidable. And that belief comes from the work of the aforementioned organizations that are seeing indisputable results in the lives of people who now call themselves “ex-gay.”
The fact is, to deny that a person can call themselves an “ex-gay” is to deny that an African-American has different colored skin. It just can’t be done. And it still remains true that there are more and more “ex-gay” people out there, and not one single ex African American.
Further Food for Thought:
Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? (Part 3)
Settling the Issue: Same-Sex Marriage IS NOT a Civil Right
Enjoy this post? Get more like them by subscribing to the Family Voice, the official blog of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia
The Engage Family Blog 
Great Points! It is a choice.
blogger970
January 5, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Completely pointless essay. Being a Baptist or a member of the Rotary is also a choice. No American would advocate trying to change these choices.
gary47290
January 6, 2009 at 2:06 am
“not one single ex African American.”?
Michael Jackson
gary47290
January 6, 2009 at 2:06 am
I follow your posts for a long time and must tell you that your posts always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.
Heartburn Home Remedy
April 15, 2009 at 11:53 am
Thanks so much for the uplifting comment. I will continue to try and post articles which serve to educate and inform our readers. I hope they will continue to be of interest for you. God bless.
Nathan Cherry
April 15, 2009 at 2:14 pm
[…] Nathan Cherry writes on Family Voice, the Blog of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia: […]
ADF Alliance Alert » Homosexuality: Genetic, Disorder, Choice?
June 26, 2009 at 3:25 pm
[…] Further Food for Thought: “New APA Report on Treatment of Homosexuality” “Has APA given nod to gay change therapy?” “Study Concludes That Sexual Orientation Can Be Changed” “Homosexuality: Genetic, Disorder, Choice?” […]
APA on Homosexual Therapy a Disappointment, Conservatives Find Hope « The Engage Family Blog
August 10, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Wow, you people do make me sick, why don’t you live and let live, who cares if it’s a choice or a genetic predisposition?? really, i mean, you can’t choose who you fell in love with, and even if you do, who is anyone to tell you is the wrong choice?
God is asexual, and he loves us ALL. I’m pro gay mariage, and pro liberty of choice, gay people do not set a threat to anyone, only the ancient square minded fundamentalis religions, those that not evolve are doomed to perish.
D
October 20, 2009 at 5:32 pm
AMEN!
Marcus
April 12, 2010 at 10:45 am
You do not know anything. Homosexuality is a disorder of the mind which can be cured. Everyone is born straight and not queer. Do some research before u start accusing ppl of being homophobic u twat.
Jay
November 5, 2010 at 9:05 am
How can you know that everybody is born straight or queer? People are what they are and scientist saying that homosexuality is a “disorder of the mind” just seems odd. That is a little like saying that love is a disorder.
Nicole
March 28, 2011 at 10:42 am
I wonder when people say homosexual is a mental disorder, do they really think so? There r thousands of species of animal, and homosexual exists in just about every single one of them, whole homophobia only exist in human, and yet we think ourself as the most smart species exist on earth, I wonder whether they really understand what they r saying when they said we r born to be homophobia,, it’s a really strong and quite irritant words to use, cos I always assume people with education would be a little more open minded, poor to those who have to be afraid that homophobia will tale over their world, the world of close minded, the world of intolerant, the world of being sexist, and the world that is full of people who r just as bad as them,, we all r human, regardless of being gay, lesbian, straight, trans, they all have the right to be happy, and just live a normal life like the others,,,, and saying homosexual promotes STD is like saying being straight promote extreme population growth.. There is nothing relates to it, depends on how educated u are, how careful u r,, even straight people can transfer STD as well, not just gay….
Kimsan
November 15, 2011 at 11:29 am
Well, isn’t this a completely biased article. The fact that this is biased,
“And I for one am thankful for Mr. Delany and the Joseph’s Coat Ministry…The mere fact that there are so many ministries reaching out to homosexuals…suggests that it is possible for a homosexual to change his or her lifestyle.”
renders the essay null. A biased article will only show facts from one side, not both. Good try, but never use the word, “I” if you are trying to make a point on a contraversial issue, and especially do not put, “my opinion”.
TJ
February 5, 2010 at 10:31 am
Why are so many countries in the world so intolerant against homosexuality? Because it is a proven psychological disorder which has become a worldwide pandemic which has yet to be cured.
I fully agree with this article and I believe that more people should know about it. Homosexuality promotes infertility, immorality and STDs. I am tolerant of homosexuals but I am not tolerant of their want to marriage rights. Like this article, I know a gay male friend who was actively gay for the last 10 years but have recently changed to being a heterosexual. If homosexuality is ‘normal’, why is it male and female and NOT male-male, female-female? It is a disorder which I believe will be cured in the near future.
Everyone is born with homophobic feelings and NO ONE is BORN HOMOSEXUAL why? Because homosexuality is WRONG. Its not a religious/conservative edict. Its purely human nature. Homophobia is normal but extreme homophobia is wrong. I am friends with lesbians and gays but I dont shout them down for being what they are. But I believe its wrong like so many people out there who are too afraid to speak due to fear of backlash from pro-homosexual contingencies. Seriously, the vast majority of people living in modern society today are opposed to homosexuality as ‘normal’. Ultimately its everyone’s choice so at the end of the day, I dont really care. Just as long as gays/lesbians dont bombard my city streets in disturbing rallies or go on TV to promote homosexuality as a norm. ITS NOT. NATURE SAYS ITS NOT.
Jay
November 5, 2010 at 9:17 am
Here is one of my proofs:
BUENOS AIRES, May 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The eminent Spanish psychiatrist Enrique Rojas gave a speech yesterday in Buenos Aires declaring that homosexuality is “a clinical process that has an etiology, pathogeny, treatment, and cure”.
Speaking at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair about his book “Goodbye, Depression”, Rojas characterized homosexual orientation as a “disorder” rather than an illness, and stated his opinion that 95% of cases are caused by environmental factors, according to the Spanish news service Terra.
The disorder, according to Rojas, is the result of an absent father, overweening mother, or sexual abuse in childhood.
Rojas blasted the homosexual movement for promoting the development of homosexual tendencies in young people, and particularly condemned the practice of allowing homosexual couples to adopt children.
The child is deprived of a right to grow up “in a normal environment, heterosexual, which is the standard” he said. “Heterosexuality is what is normal, the natural condition of human bengs.”
According to studies from the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, there is a 70-80 percent chance that a child adopted by homosexuals will develop the same tendencies, Rojas said.
Rojas is the author of various books on psychology, including “Who Are You?”, “The Light Man” and “Remedies for Coldness”.
I have more if any of u pro-homosexual activists want some.
Jay
November 5, 2010 at 9:25 am
For most of us, two women together, or two men, it just screams dysfunction and buried emotional pain. But, through the eyes of the homosexual disorder, they perceive things quite differently. Just as the anorexic looks in a mirror and sees a fat person, or the hoarder who loves their trash, the homosexual sees “nothing wrong” with their sexual preferences. They get angry and loud when challenged. The lesbian/gay person has every right to embrace their disorder. We cannot, and do not force medical/therapuetic treatment on anyone. Life may be going well for you, and you have a group of loving supporters. This may not last forever though, and if the mental, physical, and serious health problems associated with this disorder catch up with you, well lets just say, the porch light is on. Wouldn’t it be smart though, if you sought help before things soured?
mandy
February 16, 2011 at 9:53 am
Saying that there is a “cure” for homosexualitity seems really, really odd to me. Is there some sort of cure for people being heterosexual too?
So many are stuck in wanting there to be a cure for homosexulity simply because they just don’t want to accept it.There are just being so much unnecessary spent on making experiments on people who just are attracted by the opposit sex.
Nicole
March 28, 2011 at 10:46 am
You are right…”cure” is the wrong word, and actually from what I see, it isn’t used in the body of the article. It takes years to develop a homosexual disposition, and it takes years to move away from it. It is a disorder, and frankly getting as much recovery from it the better. It is not a case of therapits deciding to change homosexuals againt their will, but rather, very unhappy people are seeking treatment. The testimony of those who leave the lifestyle is positive in every way. They are at peace with themselves and contine to grow and change. Heterosexual is the norm, ying and yang. Anything else is a deviation and falls short in the circle of life.
mandy
May 19, 2011 at 8:32 am
Homosexuality is Darwinism at its finest. Survival of the fittest. Weak genes are removing themselves from the reproductive cycle. Just like in the wild. Why do people try to fight this. If we were not forward thinking and educated and able to take sperm and eggs from people to create offspring gay people could not reproduce.
Gay wild animals die off without reproducing, removing their inferior DNA from the gene pool. Becuase we are so smart and can manipulate nature people don’t think about this. from the DNA up we are either male or female, and thats what we are end of story.
OJ
April 7, 2011 at 9:30 pm
I wonder, were any of this people (homosexuals) confused and unhappy before we started telling them they were? I don’t see gays as a non beneficial part to society, in fact many of them have lived successful happy lives. Ellen, has the power to make thousands laugh by hosting a multi million dollar talk show touch many current events. If you looked into it, there are good amounts of proof Alexander the Great was gay.
Brining up Darwin’s theory, the strong will live and the weak will die has been proved many times in our worlds history with humans and animals. But did you not donate a dollar a day to a child in Africa? Did you donate to the United Way or even support a church fundraiser? Isn’t that the complete opposite of Darwinism? Because you don’t understand something, doesn’t means its wrong. Think of it this way, a man and a women have the right to be together even though they are miserably unhappy, fighting which hurts the kids and the people that they surround if they are in the picture. But two men and two women are looked down upon, even if they are content. If Delany was unhappy, its up to the person them self to take the initiative to fix a problem of unhappiness, which he did. So it seems homosexual can problem solve better than a heterosexual person who blindly says “no, its wrong”.
Does it not make you a little annoyed when Jehovah’s Witness’s or Mormons, Catholic’s come by with there children to “save” you? Would it not annoy and hurt a homosexual if someone was constantly telling them they needed to be “fixed” and they were confused? If a religions god cannot accept people with differences, well then what kind of gods are they? It’s hypocritical to say the least.
Bulling is wrong because people get hurt and can sometimes die. Murder, stealing, cheating…are all wrong, but with obvious reasons. But homosexuality, doesn’t point in any direction of crime and violence as well as a loss of workplace productivity.
There will always be one person, who makes another uncomfortable. One day at work for a regular engineer, walked into the bathroom to find a Muslim man washing his feet in the sink, which many religions do before praying. Those traditions in religions date back many many years. This made the engineer extremely uncomfortable, but never called out the man for it because he understood, understood that people have religion. Homosexuals do nothing of the sort, yet people judge. I doesn’t add up.
I hope somebody conducts a legitimate study on this, so this continuos painful debate can finally be resolved better than “it’s wrong”.
Sully
January 8, 2012 at 1:27 am
Please read this article the last one had various grammar errors!
I wonder, were any of this people (homosexuals) confused and unhappy before we started telling them they were? I don’t see gays as a non beneficial part to society; in fact many of them have lived successful happy lives. Ellen has the power to make thousands laugh by hosting a multimillion dollar talk show touch many current events. If you looked into it, there are good amounts of proof Alexander the Great was gay.
Brining up Darwin’s theory, the strong will live and the weak will die has been proved many times in our worlds history with humans and animals. But did you not donate a dollar a day to a child in Africa? Did you donate to the United Way or even support a church fundraiser? Isn’t that the complete opposite of Darwinism? Because you don’t understand something, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Think of it this way, a man and a woman have the right to be together even though they are miserably unhappy, fighting which hurts the kids and the people that they surround if they are in the picture. But two men and two women are looked down upon, even if they are content. If Delany was unhappy, it’s up to the person them self to take the initiative to fix a problem of unhappiness, which he did. So it seems homosexuals can problem solve better than a heterosexual person who blindly says “no, it’s wrong”.
Does it not make you a little annoyed when Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons, Catholic’s come by with their children to “save” you? Would it not annoy and hurt a homosexual if someone was constantly telling them they needed to be “fixed” and they were confused? If a religions god cannot accept people with differences, well then what kind of gods are they? It’s hypocritical to say the least.
Bulling is wrong because people get hurt and can sometimes die. Murder, stealing, cheating…are all wrong, but with obvious reasons. But homosexuality, doesn’t point in any direction of crime and violence as well as a loss of workplace productivity.
There will always be one person, who makes another uncomfortable. One day at work for a regular engineer, walked into the bathroom to find a Muslim man washing his feet in the sink, which many religions do before praying. Those traditions in religions date back many many years. This made the engineer extremely uncomfortable, but never called out the man for it because he understood, understood that people have religion. Homosexuals do nothing of the sort, yet people judge. I doesn’t add up.
I hope somebody conducts a legitimate study on this, so this continuous painful debate can finally be resolved better than “it’s wrong”.
Sully
January 8, 2012 at 1:34 am
The ignorance in comments on this post is astonishing. People are sooo quick to voice their opinion with nothing more than feelings in place of facts. I will not deny that I believe homosexuality is a disorder, but not every homosexual person is created equal. If people would take the time to do some real research they would find that the American Psychological Association does NOT recognize homosexuality as a psychological disorder. The fact of the matter is that there is scientific evidence to support both sides of this argument. Research has shown that people can be born with genetic abnormalities that can lead to homosexuality. However, there is also research that shows how a person’s environment can lead to the development of homosexual tendencies. What does this mean? It means that some people are born with a higher chance of being attracted to the same sex because of a genetic disorder. Whether they in fact become homosexual will depend on an array of factors, such as environment and upbringing.
In response to the comments referencing how animals are homosexual, if you would also take the time to do some research you would find that not one animal who exhibits homosexual tendencies tries to engage in a homosexual relationship. There is the tendency to experiment but there is also the instinctual need to follow the social order and maintain the reproductive status quo.
nick
March 6, 2012 at 3:11 pm