Ten Myths of Homosexuality

 Ten Myths of Homosexuality

I don't think there is an issue more dominated by ill-informed opinion rather than facts.

The homosexual movement is built, not on facts
or research, but on mythology. Unfortunately,
these myths have come to be widely accepted in
society—particularly in schools, universities and
the media. It is our hope that by understanding
what these key myths are—and then reading a
brief summary of the evidence against them—
the reader will be empowered to challenge these
myths when he or she encounters them. Be kind.

Myth No. 1:
People are born gay.

Fact:
The research does not show that anyone is “born
gay,” and suggests instead that homosexuality
results from a complex mix of developmental
factors.

Myth No. 2:
Sexual orientation can never change.

Fact:
Thousands of men and women have testified to
experiencing a change in their sexual orientation
from homosexual to heterosexual. Research
confirms that such change does occur—
sometimes spontaneously, and sometimes as
a result of therapeutic interventions.

Myth No. 3:
Efforts to change someone’s sexual orientation
from homosexual to heterosexual are harmful and
unethical.

Fact :
There is no scientific evidence that change efforts
create greater harm than the homosexual lifestyle
itself. The real ethical violation is when clients
are denied the opportunity to set their own goals
for therapy.

Myth No. 4:
Ten percent of the population is gay.

Fact:
Less than three percent of American adults
identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual.

Myth No. 5:
Homosexuals do not experience a higher level of
psychological disorders than heterosexuals.

Fact :
Homosexuals experience considerably higher
levels of mental illness and substance abuse than
heterosexuals. A detailed review of the research
has shown that “no other group of comparable
size in society experiences such intense and
widespread pathology.”

Myth No. 6:
Homosexual conduct is not harmful to one’s
physical health.

Fact:
Both because of high-risk behavior patterns,
such as sexual promiscuity, and because of
the harm to the body from specific sexual
acts, homosexuals are at greater risk than
heterosexuals for sexually transmitted diseases
and other forms of illness and injury

Myth No. 7:
Children raised by homosexuals are no different
from children raised by heterosexuals, nor do they
suffer harm.

Fact:
An overwhelming body of social science
research shows that children do best when
raised by their own biological mother and father
who are committed to one another in a lifelong
marriage. Research specifically on children
of homosexuals has major methodological
problems, but does show specific differences.

Myth No. 8:
Homosexuals are no more likely to molest
children than heterosexuals.

Fact:
The percentage of child sexual abuse cases in
which men molest boys is many times higher
than the percentage of adult males who are
homosexual, and most men who molest boys
self-identify as homosexual or bisexual.

Myth No. 9:
Homosexuals are seriously disadvantaged by
discrimination.

Fact:
Research shows that homosexuals actually
have significantly higher levels of educational
attainment than the general public, while
the findings on homosexual incomes are, at
worst, mixed.

Myth No. 10:
Homosexual relationships are just the same as
heterosexual ones, except for the gender of the
partners.

Fact:
Homosexuals are less likely to enter into
a committed relationship, less likely to be
sexually faithful to a partner, even if they have
one, and are less likely to remain committed
for a lifetime, than are heterosexuals. They also
experience higher rates of domestic violence
than heterosexual married couples.