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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Evergreen Told Homosexuality Not Genetic
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The opening speaker at this year's Evergreen
International Conference told attendees that no one is born gay and claiming
that scientific research that indicate's otherwise is flawed. Former
homosexual Richard Cohen, author of "Coming Out Straight," told the 10th
Annual Evergreen Conference that there is no biological differrence between
homosexuals and heterosexuals.
Instead, Cohen claims that homosexuality is a mental illness, which he calls
"Same Sex Attachment Disorder" (SSAD). Cohen told the group, which includes
clergy and therapists, that homosexuals can be cured through so-called
reparative therapy. Cohen blames SSAD on childhood trauma, "A little boy in
a man's body looking for a daddy's love in the arms of another man. Or a
little girl in a woman's body looking for a mommy's love in the arms of
another woman." He says, however, that the disorder can be complicated by a
host of social, familial and psychological factors.
Evergreen International has unofficial ties to the LDS Church, and its
conference was held in the LDS Church's Joseph Smith Memorial Building
(former Hotel Utah). The Salt Lake City-based group teaches that reparative
therapy can be successful for homosexuals. But the majority of mental health
professionals dismiss the treatment as ineffective and possibly damaging.
But neither advocates of reparative therapy nor its detractors yet have
definitive scientific evidence to support their conclusions.
Scientific evidence of a "gay gene" has also proved elusive, with claims of
discovering such a gene in dispute as scientists are unable to replicate key
studies that claim such a gene exists.
Source:
None Born Gay, Author Insists at Therapy Panel
Salt Lake Tribune 16Sep00 N4
By Bob Mims: Salt Lake Tribune
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