ABC’s 20/20 to Focus on ‘Gay Gene’ Debate Tonight
March 28, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Christianity, Culture War, Current Affairs, Ex-Gay, Exodus, Gay, Homosexuality, People, Sexuality, Television
From the Exodus Press Office …
ABC’s 20/20 to Focus on ‘Gay Gene’ Debate Tonight
Orlando, FL- ABC’s 20/20 examines the “gay gene” debate tonight in Where Does Sexual Orientation Come From? Tonight’s show features interviews with a variety of individuals including Dr. Stanton Jones, co-author of Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiousy Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation.
Drs. Jones and Yarhouse published research in this recently released book showing that religiously mediated sexual orientation change is possible for some individuals and does not cause psychological harm to the patient, on average. In the absence of scientific, longitudinal research on this topic, Exodus International funded the study conducted by Jones and Yarhouse.
“Anyone who has undergone the life-changing process of leaving homosexuality behind will tell you that it is not an easy one,” said Exodus President Alan Chambers. “However, for thousands of us, the journey has been well worth it. Regardless of what causes same-sex attraction, our lives show that others can live a life free from its dominance.”
More information on 20/20’s “Where Does Sexual Orientation Come From?”
Read Randy Thomas’ WorldNetDaily commentary What if There Really is a Gay Gene?
Purchase Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation
Update after the segment: So the only hat tip to ex-gays is to not even interview one? The only position put forward is from a young gay identified man who says all we do in those “groups” is teach “denial”?
I wish that the media would accept the fact that not everyone with same sex attraction has to embrace a gay identity or worldview. They need to present the whole context of what it means instead of the simplistic stereotypes and dismissive attitudes toward “ex-gays.”
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Well, that article was pretty biased…we’ll have to wait for the episode to air.
It was terrible to watch. It was like a slow train wreck…watching the reality of so many being simply stepped-over to embrace a non-substantiated but popular point of view. I felt a little sick as I watched.
Unfortunately I missed the episode, so I can’t comment on that.
However, Laura Leigh- I’m interested to know what you mean by “an non-substantiated but populuar point of view.”
20/20 has not ever really been a friend to us at Exodus. I thought it was so telling when they were like people “still” believe it is a choice and they had to qualify Dr. Jones as an “evangelical Christian”
We never say that homosexuality is a choice. It is not a choice, but what we do about it is a choice.
I understand Laura Leigh. The overall tone was look at these stable households embracing the obvious and implying that science is just catchin up with the inevitable. I think that is just plain lazy, indulgent and biased reporting.
The only balance was the mention of Dr. Jones and the “Ex-gays?” study. They of course blew right past it and dismissed it with the young man’s estimation of those “groups.”
I interviewed with one of their reporters one time and I had hoped for a fair report on our point of view. It never came and it looks like they still don’t ever intend to be fair to our reality. Maybe one of them will one day try to present the full context of people like ourselves but I won’t hold my breath.
Wow…I never thought that I’d say this, but the wikipedia article on ‘biology and sexual orientation’ is more balanced and better researched. Plus, those mothers were just a little bit creepy to me.