8

E. Issues Relating to The Gay Rights Agenda

Arguments for approval [1.E.a)
o o o

Homosexuality and Gaydom The Key Issues

This is a Digest of Section 1 of Homosexuality in Church and Society, by Paul C.J. Burgess
References are to relevant sections of the above. Gay advocacy statements in italics.

Natural instincts (Psychological) A so-called gay gene (more recently, but not proven) (Biological) Human rights (e.g. to pursue behaviour that does not harm others) (Humanist) Unnatural behaviour (Philosophical) Associated health risks (Medical) Unwanted family and societal consequences (Sociological) Its sinfulness, contravening Gods purposes (Theological)

Arguments against homosexuality [1.E.a)]

o o o o

A. Initial Clarifications
Opinion Polls:
o o Popularity does not determine morality. We should not be influenced by what most people think today! Hitler was once popular in Germany. [2.C.b)] Similarly evolving attitudes to marriage must not be confused with the mistaken notion of marriage itself evolving. [1.A.a)] Distinguish homosexual (the attraction) from gay (the political identity). [1.C.a)]

Civil & religious liberties at risk: [1.E.b)]

freedom of association (incl. choice of association / membership) freedom of expression (to disagree) freedom of conscience (to not be involved) freedom of parental nurture (displaced by State indoctrination / political correctness) NB: lack of safeguards (where values conflict, one humanist right / liberty might trump another, traditionalist, liberty) o o o o

Homosexual or Gay?
o

The belligerence of political correctness

o Prejudice (cf. against homosexuals) redefined to include the expression of normative values. (e.g. prejudiced stance of public officials declining to officiate at gay weddings.) [1.E.c)]

B. Models of Sexuality
Whats Wrong with Unisex?
o Sexual Complementarity (characterised by mutually supportive distinctive differences) is challenged by Unisex (implying a sexual ambiguity where gender is an arbitrary social convention defined by each person). This challenge leads ultimately to Individual Moral Relativism where absolute benchmarks are replaced by, if it feels good to you, it is good and If you enjoy it, its okay.) [1.B.b)] Sex becomes a human right. Sexuality celebrated as the major indicator of intimacy between persons. This celebration is a deceitful rampant pretense to satisfy something in us that is far more profound, namely, the longing for an intimacy that ultimately ties us into the life of God. (Loder) [1.B.c)]

Shutting Down Opposition to The Gay Agenda o People do fear to express their opinions about homosexual behaviour. Professionals fear dissenting from the prescribed ideological wisdom about homosexuality. Politicians fear to say anything in public that would irritate the gay community, etc. The ideology of militant gays is being imposed on the West. It implies that the search for the truth about homosexuality, its causes and changeability, has almost become a forbidden activity. (Gerard van den Aardweg)

The Great Sex Charade: Love = Sex

o o

A comprehensive traditionalist overview in digest format, Homosexuality in Church and Society: Mapping The Issues (60 pages), can be viewed and freely downloaded by Googling Scribd Paul Burgess.

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C. The Nature of Homosexuality

Sexual Identity?
o Homosexuality as a distinct human identity is a 19th C social construct. Homosexuality is something one has rather than something one is. (Loder) [1.C.a)] What matters is not the urges individuals may feel (orientation) but what they do with these urges (behaviour). [1.C.c)] Popular assumption: born gay! But even gay activist Peter Tatchell rejects the flawed theory which claims a genetic causation for homosexuality. [1.C.c)] Homosexual behavior is a symptom of a disorder rather than a genetically inherited lifestyle: the product of a complex interaction between innate predispositions and environmental factors during childhood and early adolescence. (Kirk & Madsen) Again, even gay apologists admit this! [1.C.c)]

Orientation v. Behaviour
o

Evidence, a consultation on what the next steps need to be. I invite the readers of PinkNews to write to me when the consultation opens, and tell me what they think are the biggest issues still facing LGB&T people in this country and where government needs to prioritise action to combat homophobia and discrimination. (Maria Miller, Equalities Mnister) Their response: The first step is to acknowledge that human rights come before beliefs. If you did that no consultation would be needed. (Andrian Tippetts, human rights campaigner) [1.D.f)]

The Progression of the Social Status of Homosexuality:

o Sin (immoral behaviour) (by the church) & crime (in law) (from Christ to modern times) > illness / pathological / psychological condition (by the medical establishment) (1900s) > normal biological state (by social scientists) (1973) > alternative lifestyle (gay activists) > social identity (by the gay community) (1990s) [1.D.f)] Incremental Steps: from the normalization of homosexual behavior to full parity with heterosexual behaviour to the suppression and eradication (demonization) of all who think, write or speak negatively about homosexual conduct and issues. (Canon Phil Ahey) [1.D.f)] The greatest obstacle to halting the advance of the secularist culture has been a failure to recognise the ambition and goal of its protagonists. In seven short years there has been a massive transformation in the understanding of family life At each stage it has usually been the prevailing view in society that it is inconceivable that anyone would want to move beyond the proposals currently being examined and there has been a broad willingness to accept assurances that developments would go no further. It has been a soft revolution to which few have raised voices of protest. (John Deighan,) [1.D.f)] Being queer means pushing the parameters of sex, sexuality, and family and transforming the very fabric of society. (Paula Ettelbrick, advocate for the LGBT community) [1.E.a)]

A Gay Gene?
o o

Is homosexuality natural?
o Despite the claim that ones sexual preference is nobodys business but ones own, the intuition that there is something unnatural about homosexuality remains vital. (Michael Levin, JSTOR, The Monist, 02/04/84) [1.C.b)] No one knows, and it doesnt matter because, though our urges may be programmed, our behaviour is not. We all struggle with desires either inborn or acquired from social influences. Familial, cultural and other environmental factors contribute to same sex attraction. Debates over homosexuality are often presented in terms of a false dichotomyeither a person is born gay, or a person chooses to be gay. The truth lies between these two extremes. For the most part, people do not choose what sexual feelings or attractions they experience. Each of us does, however, choose the sexual behaviors in which we engage. (Family Research Centre) A biological factor in criminality does not make a crime acceptable. [1.C.c)]

False Assurances in A Soft Incremental Revolution.

o

Nature, Nurture or Neither (Choice)? Does it Matter?

o

Transforming Society.
o

6 o Use of Spin: Todays society is largely pragmatic, interested in what works rather than issues of absolute truth. Thus it is the artists of persuasion, spin doctors, that influence society now, whether they be lawyers, lobbyists, marketers or law-makers. [1.D.c)] Fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change. (Masha Gessen), [1.D.d)] Politics and science go hand in hand. In the end it is gay activism which determines what researchers say about gay people. (Vern Bullough, humanist sexologist) [1.C.c)] Victimisation Deception. Pain of the victim precludes moral scrutiny. You skillfully master the techniques of invoking sympathy, hiding the truth and presenting a sanitized portrait of gay life. (John McKellar, Gay campaigner against gay extremist agendas.) [1.D.d)] Pauls teaching: homosexual practice in effect suppresses Gods truth. Cf The Serpents original lie: Hath God said? [3.C.b)] Belittling traditionalists as old-fashioned and alarmist. The Equal Marriage bill passed despite dinosaur opponents proclaiming the end of civilization as we know it. (Nick Clegg, who also once referred to defenders of traditional marriage as bigots) [1.D.e)] Introducing kindergarten and grade one students to alternative behaviours and lifestyles is psychological pedophilia. You dont have to engage solely in physical contact to molest a child. You can diddle with their minds and their emotions. (John McKellar) [1.D.d)] I look forward to one day seeing the rainbow flag fly over every government building.(Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, PinkNews, 24/06/13) The Government is to launch of a consultation of LBGT people for their next policy idea after redefining marriage. We are starting our LGB&T Call for

Can Same Sex Attraction (SSA) be changed?

o There is no conclusive scientific evidence, one way or the other (APA 2009:23) that Sexual Orientation Changes Efforts (SOCE) are successful. Neither is there clarity on the nature of orientation nor a consensus on how to measure it. (Michael R Davidson) [1.C.d)] The argument that homosexuality is biologically determined, and is therefore not amenable to change, continues to find little support in science. (M. Greer) Credible evidence is lacking for a biological model of homosexuality." (R. Friedman, M.D. / J. Downey) [1.C.c)] Politics and science go hand in hand. In the end it is gay activism which determines what researchers say about gay people. (Vern Bullough, [1.C.c)] Gay activists portray their lifestyle as normal and healthy, equivalent in every way to their heterosexual counterparts. Sex within marriage of a man and a woman is the normal outlet of intimacy. Homosexual sex is an abnormal use of bodily parts. [1.C.e)] Homosexuality is not formally recognized as a mental disorder in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). However, some mental health professionals disagree: a few years following the removal of homosexuality from the DSM, the majority of psychiatrists in America viewed homosexuality as a pathology, and the majority of psychiatrists around the world continue to see same-sex attraction as signaling a mental illness. (Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse) Note: Mental illness is not a disease. [1.C.f)] Therefore I can do what I like! Male and female are differently constructed sexually. We ignore the Creators purpose at our peril. [1.C.d)] Social sciences lack the resources (available to religion, theology and philosophy) to decide moral issues. [1.C.d)]

Dishonesty of Gay Claims

o

o o

The Integrity of Research into Homosexuality?

o

Is homosexuality normal?
o

Intolerance Towards Traditionalists

o o

Promotion of Homosexuality in Schools

o

Gender a social construct?

o

Partisan Government Promotion:

o

Science the Arbiter of what is positive?

o

Human desire for intimacy.

o Intimacy and sex neither coterminous nor equivalent. [1.C.e)] Mental: Homosexual orientation is often associated with anxiety, substance-use disorders and suicidal thoughts, because homosexual relationships are intrinsically insecure. Is this due to pressure of societal prejudice, or rather to something inherently wrong with homosexuality? [1.C.f)] Sexual: Homosexual activity is breeding a culture of sexual irresponsibility. Promiscuity: The clear evidence of relational instability and promiscuity among male homosexuals must figure as problematic for Christians. (Jones & Yarhouse) [1.C.f)]

Promote a Victim Image Using AIDS:

o As cynical as it may seem, AIDS gives us a chance, however brief, to establish ourselves as a victimized minority legitimately deserving of Americas special protection and care.(Kirk & Madsen, Gay activists] [1.D.a)] The Overhauling of Straight America (Blueprint for the Gay agenda by Kirk & Madsen) A Detailed Gay Strategy: 1. Communicate with others at their own level while curtailing gay "self-expression." 2. Appeal to the "ambivalent sceptics" or the "muddled middle." 3. "Desensitize" people to the subject by constantly talking about gayness (but hide the negative aspects). 4. Keep the message focused on gay issues (don't fight for other causes). 5. Portray homosexuals as victims, not as threats to the status quo. 6. Give potential supporters a cause they can relate to, such as antidiscrimination; don't ask them to support the practice of homosexuality per se. 7. Make gays look good: portray them as Everyman and Everywoman. 8. Make opponents look bad: portray them as evil and victimizing. Also: Solicit Funds [1.D.b) A strategy published earlier and still in operation with grants from government sources Linguistic Manipulation: e.g. Homophobia as engaging in a behavior aimed at restricting the human rights of persons who have a homosexual orientation and/or who engages in homosexual behavior. By calling dislike of homosexuality homophobia and labeling the belief that heterosexuality (not homosexuality) is the norm as heterosexist, gay campaigners hope to abolish these supposed social evils and get homosexual behaviour firmly accepted as normal in a society that becomes indifferent to the form of relationships which individuals choose to enter or make the basis of their family life. [1.D.c)]

Health Issues
o

Strategy Objectives:
o

D. The Politics of Homosexuality: Gaydom Unmasked

Strategy of Gay Activists:
o The strategy has been to disseminate widely the powerful ideas that homosexual practice is good, that being gay is an innate unchangeable condition, that gay people are oppressed victims, that those who say otherwise are hateful oppressors [and bigots], who must be either converted, branded as right wing lunatics, or cowed into silence through legislation. The last ten years have seen the effectiveness of this strategy to change attitudes within the church. (Andrew Symes) [1.D.a)] o

Push For Acceptance Based On Inaccurate Reporting of % of Homosexuals in Population.

o Kinseys Report exaggerated the number of homosexuals (10%, a truer figure is 1.6% - 3%) Out of the moral fog of the last few decades, the notion emerged that 10% equals normal, and normal equals natural, and natural equals acceptable. (Schmidt)[1.D.a)] Homosexuality violates societal norms; however, mental health organizations have taken the formal position that societal norms have to be changed toward accepting homosexuality as a normal sexual variant. (Jones and Yarhouse) [1.D.a)]

Aim to Change Societal Norms:

o