Changes

According to Bernard Weiss, "disagreements arise partly from arguments about the roots of homosexuality, and about questions of gender identity and others that at one time would have seemed quite remote from neurotoxicology." Due to concern over environmental health risks including cancer, thinning of bald eagle eggshells, and reduced species reproduction, [[endocrine disruption]] was the primary theme of the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference.<ref name=intersect/>

According to Bernard Weiss, "disagreements arise partly from arguments about the roots of homosexuality, and about questions of gender identity and others that at one time would have seemed quite remote from neurotoxicology." Due to concern over environmental health risks including cancer, thinning of bald eagle eggshells, and reduced species reproduction, [[endocrine disruption]] was the primary theme of the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference.<ref name=intersect/>

== Biblical statements concerning homosexuality  ==

===Cultural trend===

[[File:Prophet Moses.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The prophet [[Moses]] authored the book of [[Leviticus]] ]]

====Gallup Polling====

For more information please see:  [[Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]] and [[Homosexuality and the Bible]] and [[Atheism and homosexuality]] and [[Atheism and the persecution of homosexuals]]

An October 2012 Gallup poll provided unprecedented demographic information about those who identify as LGBT, arriving at the conclusion that 3.4% of all U.S. adults identify as LGBT.<ref name=gallup>{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/158066/special-report-adults-identify-lgbt.aspx |title=Special Report: 3.4% of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT |last1=Gates |first1=Gary J. |last2=Newport |first2=Frank |date=2012-10-18 |website=[[Gallup]] |publisher= |accessdate=2015-01-13}}</ref> The study is the nation's largest in counting LGBT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gallup-survey-claims-34-percent-in-us-are-lgbt |title=Gallup survey claims 3.4 percent in U.S. are LGBT |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=2012-10-18 |website=[[CBS News]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |accessdate=2015-01-13}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/18/adults-lesbian-gay-bisexual/1642203 |title=New survey: 3.4% of U.S. adults are LGBT |last1=Jayson |first1=Sharon |last2= |first2= |date=2012-10-19 |website=[[USA Today]] |publisher= |accessdate=2015-01-13}}</ref> If homosexuality was genetic there should be no distinctions across age, gender, education, and region. The fact that such distinctions exist show homosexuality is not genetic.

=====Age/Gender=====

* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%206:9;&version=31; I Corinthians 6:9] (NIV) - Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Timothy%201:8-11;&version=49; I Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB)] - "But we know that the [[Mosaic Law|Law]] is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and [[sin|sinners]], for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious [[gospel]] of the blessed [[God]], with which I have been entrusted."

 

Gallup found that those 18-29 are twice as likely as those 30-49 to identify as LGBT in the United States (6.4% to 3.2%) and over three times as likely as those ages 65 or older. (6.4% to 1.9%) Women are almost twice as likely to be LGBT as men are, 8.3% to 4.6%.<ref name=gallup/> This is strong evidence that homosexuality is a cultural trend rather than genetic.

 

 

 

Gallup found that those 18-29 are twice as likely as those 30-49 to identify as LGBT in the United States (6.4% to 3.2%) and over three times as likely as those ages 65 or older. (6.4% to 1.9%) Women are almost twice as likely to be LGBT as men are, 8.3% to 4.6%.<ref name=gallup/>  

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"  

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"  

! width="80"|Age/Gender

! width="100"|Age/Gender

! width="50"|Yes

! width="50"|Yes

! width="50"|No

! width="50"|No

|}

|}

===Education/Income===

=====Education/Income=====

Gallup in surveying education and income levels arrived at the conclusion that "LGBT is highest among Americans with the lowest levels of education" and "A similar pattern is found across income groups." While 3.5% of those who have completed high school or less and 4.0% of those who have completed some college identify as LGBT, only 2.8% of college graduates and 3.2% of postgraduates do so. And while 5.1% of those with incomes below $24,000 identify as LGBT, 3.6% of those in the $24,000-$60,000 range do so, and 2.8% of those in both the $60,000-$90,000 and $90,000+ income brackets.<ref name=gallup/>

Gallup in surveying education and income levels arrived at the conclusion that "LGBT is highest among Americans with the lowest levels of education" and "A similar pattern is found across income groups." While 3.5% of those who have completed high school or less and 4.0% of those who have completed some college identify as LGBT, only 2.8% of college graduates and 3.2% of postgraduates do so. And while 5.1% of those with incomes below $24,000 identify as LGBT, 3.6% of those in the $24,000-$60,000 range do so, and 2.8% of those in both the $60,000-$90,000 and $90,000+ income brackets.<ref name=gallup/>

|}

|}

===Region===

=====Region=====

The 2012 Gallup study discovered that LGBT identification is greater on the East and West coasts (3.7% and 3.6% resp.) than in the South (3.2%) or Midwest (3.4%).<ref name=gallup/>

The 2012 Gallup study discovered that LGBT identification is greater on the East and West coasts (3.7% and 3.6% resp.) than in the South (3.2%) or Midwest (3.4%).<ref name=gallup/>  

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"  

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"  

|}

|}

== Homosexuality - Genetics, Religious Upbringing, Culture, Sexual Abuse, and Choice ==

In 1994, the book ''Sex in America: A definitive survey'' by Robert T. Michael, John H. Gagnon, Edward O. Laumann, and Gina Kolata stated the following:

For more information please see: [[Causes of Homosexuality]]

{{Cquote|There is a much higher incidence of homosexuality among those who have been raised in large cities, rather than in rural areas, arguing that the environment is much more powerful than genes in the development of homosexuality... If homosexuality were significantly influenced by [[gene]]s, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent. It was very rare in the Siriono, even though there were no prohibitions on homosexual relationships in that culture. The researcher observed only one man displaying slight homosexual traits but apparently not sexually involved with another man.  Homosexuality appears to be rare among [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jews]] [Orthodox Judaism forbids homosexuality], so much so that learned rabbis, the interpreters of [[Judaism|Jewish]] law, usually allowed men to sleep in the same bed, because likelihood of sexual contact was considered negligible. [[Alfred Kinsey|Kinsey]] also found very low homosexual incidence among Orthodox Jews.<ref>http://www.mygenes.co.nz/summary.htm</ref>}}

====Adoptive brothers====

===Terminology===

''For more information please see'': [[Homosexuality and Genetics]]

''For more information please see'': [[Homosexuality and Genetics]]

Dr. Tahir I. Jaz, M.D., Winnipeg, Canada states: "The increasing claims of being "[[Homosexuality and Genetics|born that way]]" parallels the rising political activism of homosexual organizations, who politicize the issue of homosexual origins. In the 1970s, approximately ten percent of homosexuals claimed to be "born homosexual" according to a large scale survey....However, in a survey in the 1980s, with the homosexual rights movement increasingly becoming active, thirty-five percent claimed to be born that way.<ref>http://www.flyfishingdevon.co.uk/salmon/year2/hormones/tahir.htm</ref>

Dr. Tahir I. Jaz, M.D., Winnipeg, Canada states: "The increasing claims of being "[[Homosexuality and Genetics|born that way]]" parallels the rising political activism of homosexual organizations, who politicize the issue of homosexual origins. In the 1970s, approximately ten percent of homosexuals claimed to be "born homosexual" according to a large scale survey....However, in a survey in the 1980s, with the homosexual rights movement increasingly becoming active, thirty-five percent claimed to be born that way.<ref>http://www.flyfishingdevon.co.uk/salmon/year2/hormones/tahir.htm</ref>

===Religious Upbringing and Culture Can Strongly Affect Rates of Homosexuality===

===Personal Choice===

''For more information please see'': [[Religious Upbringing and Culture Affects Rates of Homosexuality]]

 

In regards to the issue of [[Homosexuality and Choice|homosexuality and choice]], given the existence of [[ex-homosexuals]] and given the [[ Religious Upbringing and Culture Affects Rates of Homosexuality|existence of human cultures where homosexuality has apparently not existed]], the position that homosexuality is ultimately a choice in individuals or at the very least can be a choice in individuals has strong evidential support. In short, there is a strong argument that one can [[Overcoming Homosexuality|leave homosexuality]]. 

 

Also, in 2012 ABC News reported concerning actress Cynthia Nixon: "Cynthia Nixon stands by her statement that she is gay by choice, despite the backlash she’s received from members of the gay community."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/01/cynthia-nixon-gay-by-choice/ Cynthia Nixon: Gay by Choice?]</ref> In addition, given that the [[Homosexuality and Health|homosexual population has significantly higher rates of many diseases and the homosexual population also has significantly lower rates of various measures of mental health]] it can be strongly argued that engaging in homosexual acts is a bad choice for individuals.  Another factor that makes engaging in homosexual acts a bad choice for individuals is the significantly higher rates of [[Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence|domestic violence in homosexual couples]].  In addition, according to experts [[Homosexuality and Murders|homosexual murders are relatively or quite common and often homosexual murders are very brutal]].  Also, the [[Homosexuality and Illegal Drug Use|homosexual population has a greater propensity to engage in illegal drug use]].

Dr. Neil Whitehead is a research scientist and [[biochemistry|biochemist]] from [[New Zealand]] and his wife Briar Whitehead is a writer.<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/mygenes.html Book Review: My Genes Made Me Do It: A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation

A 2003 poll done by Ellison Research of [[Phoenix]], [[Arizona]] stated that 82% of all [[United States|American]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] ministers agreed with the statement “homosexuality is a choice people make".<ref>[http://www.greymatterresearch.com/index_files/Homosexuality.htm Opinions about homosexuality - Grey Matter Consulting]</ref>

by Neil and Briar Whitehead]</ref> Dr. Whitehead coauthored a book with with his wife entitled ''My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation'' which argues that there is no [[gene]]tic determinism in regards to homosexuality (homosexuals are "not born that way") and that there is abundant documentation that individuals are able to leave homosexuality and become heterosexuals.<ref>http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm</ref>

 

[[File:70810564 64d3a67932.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Homosexuality appears to be rare in [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jews]].]]

Dr. Whitehead and Briar Whitehead declared:

[[File:Prophet Moses.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The prophet [[Moses]] authored the book of [[Leviticus]] ]]

{{Cquote|If homosexuality were significantly influenced by [[gene]]s, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent. It was very rare in the Siriono, even though there were no prohibitions on homosexual relationships in that culture. The researcher observed only one man displaying slight homosexual traits but apparently not sexually involved with another man. Homosexuality appears to be rare among [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jews]] [Orthodox Judaism forbids homosexuality], so much so that learned rabbis, the interpreters of [[Judaism|Jewish]] law, usually allowed men to sleep in the same bed, because likelihood of sexual contact was considered negligible. [[Alfred Kinsey|Kinsey]] also found very low homosexual incidence among Orthodox Jews...

For more information please see:  [[Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]] and [[Homosexuality and the Bible]] and [[Atheism and homosexuality]] and [[Atheism and the persecution of homosexuals]]

 

Below are some [[Bible]] verses that condemn homosexuality:  

* [[Leviticus]] 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

* [[Leviticus]] 20:13 - If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their [[blood]] guiltiness is upon them.

* [[Romans]] 1:26-27 - For this reason [[God]] gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%206:9;&version=31; I Corinthians 6:9] (NIV) - Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Timothy%201:8-11;&version=49; I Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB)] - "But we know that the [[Mosaic Law|Law]] is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and [[sin|sinners]], for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious [[gospel]] of the blessed [[God]], with which I have been entrusted."

 

 

 

For more information please see: [[Causes of Homosexuality]]

This evidence comes from missionaries who commonly spend 25 years of their lives living in one culture, far more than almost any anthropologist....Overall they can be considered as reliable witnesses. For example, in contrast to groups like the Sambia in the [[New Guinea]] highlands, where homosexuality was compulsory, only about 2-3 percent of Western Dani (also in the New Guinea highlands) practiced it. However, in another group of Dani who were genetically related, homosexuality was totally unknown. Missionaries report that when they were translating the [[Bible]] into Dani for this group, their tribal assistants, who knew their own culture intimately, were nonplused by references to homosexuality in [[Romans]] 1; they did not understand the concept. Another missionary, with the same group for 25 years, overheard many jests and sexually ribald exchanges among the men, but never a single mention of homosexuality in all that time. When Dani went to help with missionary work among the Sambia, they were astounded at some of the homosexual practices they saw for the first time. Although it is always difficult for a foreigner to be completely sure whether a rare and stigmatized behavior exists, it is certainly true that if three such different experiences of homosexuality can occur in groups of people so closely related genetically, genetically enforced homosexuality is an impossibility.<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6]</ref>}}

[[Image:325979 dna150.jpg|thumbnail|150px|left|[[Columbia University]] [[psychiatry]] professors Drs. William Byrne and Bruce Parsons stated: "There is no evidence that at present to substantiate a [[biology|biological]] theory. [T]he appeal of current biological explanations for sexual orientation may derive more from dissatisfaction with the present status of [[psychosocial]] explanations than from a substantiating body of experimental data".]]

 

Homosexuality is sometimes also defined in terms of an attraction, preference, orientation, or [[sexual identity|identity]]. The term "orientation" is particularly favored by those who are promoting public acceptance of homosexuality.<ref>"Today a person is often said to have a homosexual or a heterosexual orientation, a description intended to defuse some of the long-standing sentiment among many [[Western World|Westerners]] that homosexuality is immoral or [[Pathology|pathological]]." Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2001-2005 [http://www.bartleby.com/65/ho/homosexu.html]</ref>

=== Religious leader and civil rights leader Martin Luther King viewed homosexuality as a problem ===

=== Religious leader and civil rights leader Martin Luther King viewed homosexuality as a problem ===

King wrote in a 1958 column: “The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired,” . “You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it.”<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/mlk-homosexuality-a-problem-with-a-solution/ MLK: Homosexuality a 'problem' with a 'solution']</ref>

King wrote in a 1958 column: “The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired,” . “You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it.”<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/mlk-homosexuality-a-problem-with-a-solution/ MLK: Homosexuality a 'problem' with a 'solution']</ref>

===Failure of Experiments to Show Genetic Determinism For Homosexuality===

===Failure of Experiments to Show Genetic Determinism For Homosexuality===

Dr. Dean Hamer is a researcher often cited to show that there is empirical data supporting the notion of genetic [[determinism]] in regards to homosexuality. News organizations like [[National Public Radio]] and [[Newsweek]] have done news stories regarding his work.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html</ref> In respect to the press trumpeting various findings genetics-of-behavior research uncritically the science journal ''Science'' stated the following in 1994:

Dr. Dean Hamer is a researcher often cited to show that there is empirical data supporting the notion of genetic [[determinism]] in regards to homosexuality. News organizations like [[National Public Radio]] and [[Newsweek]] have done news stories regarding his work.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html</ref> In respect to the press trumpeting various findings genetics-of-behavior research uncritically the science journal ''Science'' stated the following in 1994:

{{Cquote|Time and time again, scientists have claimed that particular genes or [[chromosome|chromosomal]] regions are associated with behavioral traits, only to withdraw their findings when they were not replicated. "Unfortunately," says Yale's [Dr. Joel] Gelernter, "it's hard to come up with many" findings linking specific genes to complex human behaviors that have been replicated. "...All were announced with great fanfare; all were greeted unskeptically in the popular press; all are now in disrepute."<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html Mann, C. Genes and behavior. Science 264:1687 (1994)]</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Time and time again, scientists have claimed that particular genes or [[chromosome|chromosomal]] regions are associated with behavioral traits, only to withdraw their findings when they were not replicated. "Unfortunately," says Yale's [Dr. Joel] Gelernter, "it's hard to come up with many" findings linking specific genes to complex human behaviors that have been replicated. "...All were announced with great fanfare; all were greeted unskeptically in the popular press; all are now in disrepute."<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html Mann, C. Genes and behavior. Science 264:1687 (1994)]</ref>}}

===Immutability===

===Immutability===