Searching for the Gay Gene—Whose Agenda Is It, Anyway?

Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary based in Louisville, Ky and other anti-gay faith-based individuals are banking on a scientific discovery of an alleged gay gene in sheep.

If found this gene would pinpoint the exact genetic sequence that, I guess you could say, triggers homosexuality. You see, Dr. Mohler and ex-gay organizations like Exodus believe that same-gender-loving feelings can be developed through our environment (which is often the crutch of the alleged "gay agenda"). Their premise, although misguided, is simple: Surround a person with enough gay influences and they will turn gay. And if there is a gay gene, then there is a solution to the gay problem.

Dr. Mohler and counterparts don't seek to further the understanding of human sexuality; they seek to give parents, teens and adults a way out of what they consider the gay affliction. Their transparent thought: If there is a gene, then there is a possible cure. And since God hates gays, why wouldn't a person want the cure? Talk about an agenda!

Stephen Bennett of the ex-gay Stephen Bennett Ministries says,

"No matter the future's findings or lack thereof, homosexuality is, was and always will be 'sin' in God's eyes—an immoral, sexually behavior based lifestyle that should and can be changed."

Dr. Mohler, Bennett and the like will never recognize that natural sexuality is more complex than reciting pro-hetero affirmations in the mirror each morning and spreading one-sided rhetoric based on a single interpretation of God, homosexuality and the Bible.

However, I must applaud their adaptability. As LGBT people are becoming less taboo, anti-gay ministries have changed their tactics. They now recruit members under the guise of love, inclusion and understanding (kind of like a trial period of God's love). But, since they believe homosexuality is a sin, God's love cannot be fully achieved unless the sin is either forgiven, or in their view, eradicated. Their collective voices chant, 'We love all people. God loves you. We want you to make the decision that's right for you, so we're going to help cure your affliction. But, remember, it's up to you to decide if you want to rid yourself of your disease.' Clever tactic: Instead of spreading the fear of damnation right off the bat; they convince gays that they have disorders, in which they have the cure through "love". Again, the agenda!

Despite the rhetoric, it doesn't take a scientist to recognize that although consistent in their approach, ex-gay ministries (have the two become synonymous?) and their environmental theories are rooted in hypocrisy. If one's environment can make one unwillingly gay, couldn't through natural law one be made unwillingly heterosexual? Under this theory aren't same-gender-loving people entitle to the same right of protection against a heterosexual agenda—especially in protection of our LGBT youth (which is why in 2005 the PTA denied Exodus' application to exhibit at their conference)?

In his article What if Homosexuality is Biological?, conservative American Daily author Selwyn Duke initially presents the idea of a biological origin of sexuality with neutrality, citing a flaw in both the nature and nurture theories,

"Any biological basis for homosexuality would only be relevant insofar as preventing the condition is concerned; it has no bearing on morality. This is for a very simple reason: Biology doesn’t determine morality."

Condition, you say? Conservatives like Duke spew sterile clinical terms such as 'condition' and 'homosexuality' just the same as they do 'liberal', as if being gay is a clinical disorder afflicting our culture. They accuse us collective gays (as if we're all of the same voice) of furthering our cause and pushing our "agenda" into the homes of unwanted Americans. Yet, fundamentalists continue to combat this so-called threat by creating an image of same-gender-loving people as modern day lepers.

LGBT youth suicide attempts are four times that of heterosexual youth. Why? Ex-gay ministries would like us to believe it's because of the pain of homosexuality that clouds their lives and solicits unnecessary hardship. These at-risk LGBT youth don't feel pressure because they are gay; they live in a constant state of anxiety because of the hostile environments created by ex- and anti-gay vocalists that portray LGBT people as walking disorders—hated by God; or as Duke would say, a "condition". Why wouldn't some gay youth or parents want to seek a cure? It's one thing for a child to be 'different'; it's another for them to have a condition.

However, if we focus on what is becoming more evident we see a millions of reasons gays and parents shouldn't seek a cure. Just look at the multitude of LGBT youth and adults that are well-adjusted and appropriately contributing members of society. Many seek and achieve (to the dismay of anti-gay bull horns) happy family lives and stable relationships. They are indeed affected by their environments—surroundings filled with love and acceptance and self-actualization.

Many LGBT people have been exposed to environmental influences throughout their development. I, for one, was surrounded by plenty of heterosexual influences growing up— forced girlfriends, constant talk of how heterosexual sex is good and homosexual sex is bad, anti-gay slurs, etc. Yet, I'm still gay. It took the love of myself and the acceptance of those that loved me for who I was to guide me to a place where being gay was not painful or a unwanted nightmare.

And yet I, and many more gays, still maintain faith in a higher power. We choose not to take an inventory of what is interpreted as a Devine hit list in an effort to "correct" others, but to focus on providing a loving, caring environment for all—just as they are.

If there is a gay gene, let it be found so we can prove once and for all that it wasn't our mother's hugs, or episodes of Will & Grace or dance music that made us gay. However, let it not be the precursor to a cure for a fabricated disorder.

Controversy:
Born or Made Gay?

News:
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Gay Penguin Leaves Lover

_{Image © H Berends and Michal Zacharzewski.}