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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
NEW YORK - TruthWinsOut.org (TWO) unveiled four new Internet videos today featuring prominent molecular biologist Dean Hamer, notable mental health expert and author Dr. Jack Drescher, ex-gay survivor Brent Almond and Nick Cavnar, who after decades left an ex-gay cult. This is the final week that the organization has released new educational videos addressing the "ex-gay" myth leading up to the March 3 launch of TWO's updated website.
In today's first video, molecular biologist Dr. Dean Hamer discusses biology, genetics and homosexuality. He also debunks the misinformation put forth by "ex-gay" organizations, such as Exodus and Focus on the Family.
In TWO's second video, Dr. Jack Drescher, America's foremost expert and scholar on GLBT mental health, answers questions on the efficacy of 'ex-gay' therapy. Drescher is a renowned scholar on issues of sexual orientation and a celebrated author.
Our third person featured is Brent Almond, who suffered through the 'ex-gay' ministries. In this video, he opens up to TruthWinsOut.org about his harrowing experience.
Finally, TWO interviews Nick Cavnar, a man who suppressed his sexuality, married and joined a Michigan cult that promised to cure him. This exclusive video details his long road to self-acceptance.
TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life.
Please contibute a tax-deductible contribution to TruthWinsOut.org of you would like us to continue telling the stories of ex-gay survivors and providing experts to refute right wing lies.
If you want to help and make a difference CLICK HERE.
17 Comments:
Dean Hamer says in his interview that the factors that used to be suspected as causing homosexuality have been shown to be unimportant. It is comprehensible why someone would say this, but it's an unreasonable verdict that doesn't give his listeners any idea of the complexity of this issue.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/26/2008 4:08 AM
With all due respect, the issue is not "complex", but quite simple. The original causation came about because quack therapists:
1) Used mentally ill gay people from institutions as study samples.
2) Substituted cultural norms for legitimate science.
3) banned openly gay therapists - which meant no alternative viewpoint was given.
4) Created causation out of thin air, rather than rigorous research. Since there were few out gay people, there was no one to challenge the bizarre notions these doctors put forth.
Every last theory from evil, hateful and incompetent shrinks such as Bergler, Socarides and Bieber have shown to be unworthy and not rooted in science.
So, far from complex, it was simple bigotry against gay people that resulted in the old causation models about homosexuality.
This can be evidenced today by the absurd stereotypes disguised as science by today's quack reparative therapists and other charlatans, such as Warren Throckmorton - that obviously have no clue what they are doing.
How else can one explain the reliance on the outdated idea that gay men can't play sports or that they had distant dads - despite the empirical evidence to the contrary? The etiology espoused by ex-gay therapy has always been utter garbage rooted in prejudice. It remains so today.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
2/26/2008 10:55 AM
Wayne you need donations; the audio is horrible on the Hamer video.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/26/2008 11:52 AM
The audio on this video could be better - but that was circumstances....the other videos the audio is fine. But, I do appreciate your support and contributions
posted by Wayne Besen, at
2/26/2008 11:56 AM
The theory of causation in question was originally the work of Freud, working in the early twentieth century, quite a long time before Bergler and Socarides. Freud was perfectly aware that the homosexual patients he saw were not necessarily representative of homosexuals in general, and did not object to homosexuals training as analysts.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/26/2008 2:29 PM
That is certainly true. It all changed in the 50's as America got more conservative.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
2/26/2008 3:28 PM
Wayne, Your videos and professional researchers have alot of good points. However, even though there may be now and even more later, scientific evidence that sexual orientation is influenced by genes, once this is proved, then what? Can aborting babies with that gene or combination of genes be far behind? Do we really want to go there? Why should gay people have to prove anything anymore to anyone? Why can't we just BE?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/28/2008 3:18 PM
Wayne, speaking of those "ex-gay" quacks, you might get a chuckle out of this:
http://kkaatz.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!987521E6E0B9EAFF!4291.entry
posted by S., at
3/05/2008 12:34 PM
Notice how, when Hamer says that all the evidence shows that the Freudian theories have been discredited, he does not mention any actual, specific evidence.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/09/2008 1:03 AM
