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Article
Homosexuality and scientific evidence:
On suspect anecdotes, antiquated data,
and broad generalizations
The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association have suggested for
many years now that there is significant empirical evidence supporting the claim that homosexuality is a
normal variant of human sexual orientation as opposed to a mental disorder. This paper summarizes
and analyzes that purported scientific evidence and explains that much (if not all) of the evidence is
irrelevant and does not support the homosexuality-is-not-a-mental-disorder claim. As a result of their
deficiencies and arbitrariness, the credibility those two groups that are typically deemed authoritative
and trustworthy is called into question.
Lay summary: At one time, homosexuality was considered to be mentally disordered. Since the 1970s,
however, major medical associations in the U.S. have labeled homosexuality as a normal counterpart of
heterosexuality. Those medical associations have proposed that their homosexuality-is-normal claim is
based on “scientific evidence.” This article critically reviews that “scientific evidence” and finds that
much of their literature does not support the claim that homosexuality is normal. This article suggests
that instead of supporting their claim with scientific evidence, those major medical associations arbitra-
rily label homosexuality as normal.
the non-antiquated, that is, the the United States. APA is the world’s
up-to-date, data show about homosexu- largest association of psychologists, with
ality? Also, what do the so-called credible nearly 130,000 researchers, educators,
experts say about homosexuality? When clinicians, consultants, and students as its
one browses the Internet, one will see that members. (American Psychological
Association 2014)
apparently many of the so-called experts
on mental disorders claim that there is a
Their mission “is to advance the cre-
significant amount of scientific evidence in
ation, communication, and application of
support of the claim that homosexuality is
psychological knowledge to benefit society
not a mental disorder. Hence, it is necess-
and improve people’s lives” (American
ary to provide a summary and analysis of
Psychological Association 2014).
that purported up-to-date scientific evi-
The American Psychiatric Association
dence which supports the claim that
(which also uses the acronym APA)
homosexuality is not a mental disorder.
The two groups that are typically is the world’s largest psychiatric organiz-
deemed authoritative and credible experts ation. It is a medical specialty society
on mental disorders in the United States representing growing membership of
are the American Psychological Association more than 35,000 psychiatrists … Its
(APA) and the American Psychiatric member physicians work together to
Association; thus, I will present their ensure humane care and effective treat-
stances on homosexuality and then analyze ment for all persons with mental
the “scientific evidence” that they claim disorders, including intellectual disabil-
supports their stances. I will show that ities and substance use disorders. APA is
there are significant deficiencies in the lit- the voice and conscience of modern psy-
chiatry. (American Psychiatric
erature put forth as scientific evidence in
Association 2014a)
support of the claim that homosexuality is
not a mental disorder. Specifically, much of The American Psychiatric Association
the literature they put forth as scientific evi- publishes the Diagnostic and Statistical
dence is irrelevant to the topic of Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which
homosexuality and mental disorders. As a is
result of their deficiencies, the credibility of
the American Psychiatric Association and the handbook used by health care pro-
the APA, at least in their claims regarding fessionals in the United States and much
human sexuality, is called into question. of the world as the authoritative guide to
the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM
contains descriptions, symptoms, and
other criteria for diagnosing mental dis-
THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL orders. It provides a common language
ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN for clinicians to communicate about their
PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION patients and establishes consistent and
reliable diagnoses that can be used in the
I will begin by describing the APA and the research of mental disorders. It also pro-
American Psychiatric Association, and I vides a common language for researchers
will then present their stances on the topic to study the criteria for potential future
revisions and to aid in the development
of homosexuality. The APA claims to be
of medications and other interventions.
the largest scientific and professional (American Psychiatric Association 2014b,
organization representing psychology in emphasis added)
366 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of task force were Lee Beckstead, Ph.D.; Jack
Mental Disorders has been considered to Drescher, M.D.; Beverly Greene, Ph.D.;
be the authoritative guide to the diagnosis Robin Lin Miller, Ph.D.; Roger
of mental. It follows, then, that those psy- L. Worthington, Ph.D.; and Clinton
chiatrists that make up the American W. Anderson, Ph.D. According to Joseph
Psychiatric Association, especially those Nicolosi, Beckstead, Drescher, and Ander-
involved in determining the contents of son are all “gay,” while Miller is “bisexual”
the DSM, are considered to be the auth- and Greene is lesbian (Nicolosi 2009). So,
orities and experts in psychiatry. (For prior to assessing their discussions, the
those who may not be aware, the study of reader should note that those involved
psychology is different from the study of with this APA task force are not speaking
psychiatry, which is why there are two or writing from neutral standpoints.
different professional organizations that I will be drawing quotes from two
study mental disorders.) different documents. Doing so will
The stances of the APA and the Amer- provide more evidence of the stance of
ican Psychiatric Association on both the APA and the American Psychia-
homosexuality are discussed in at least two tric Association.
important documents. The first is the
Brief of Amici Curiae for APA, American
Psychiatric Association, and others given THE TWO ASSOCIATIONS’ STANCE ON
during the Supreme Court case Lawrence HOMOSEXUALITY
v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558, which overthrew
laws against sodomy. The second is the The APA writes:
APA document titled “Report of the Task
Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Same-sex sexual attractions, behavior, and
Responses to Sexual Orientation.” The orientations per se are normal and posi-
task force “conducted a systematic review tive variants of human sexuality—in other
words, they do not indicate either mental
of the peer-reviewed journal literature on
or developmental disorders. (Glassgold
sexual orientation change efforts” in order et al. 2009, 2)
to provide “more specific recommen-
dations to licensed mental health They explain that by “normal” they
practitioners, the public, and policy- mean “both the absence of a mental dis-
makers” (Glassgold et al. 2009, 2). Both order and the presence of a positive and
documents provide citations of “evidence” healthy outcome of human development”
supporting the claim that homosexuality is (Glassgold et al. 2009, 11). The authors
not a mental disorder. I will refer to the writing for the APA believe that the pre-
scientific evidence cited in the documents, vious claim “has a significant empirical
and I will follow with an analysis of that foundation” (Glassgold et al. 2009, 15).
literature put forth as scientific evidence. The Brief of Amici Curiae for both the
It should be noted that the “task force” APA and the American Psychiatric
that produced the second document was Association uses similar language:
chaired by Judith M. Glassgold, Psy.D., Decades of research and clinical experi-
who is a lesbian psychologist. She sits on ence have led all mainstream mental
the board of the Journal of Gay and health organizations in this country to the
Lesbian Psychotherapy and is past president conclusion that homosexuality is a normal
of the APA’s Gay and Lesbian Division form of human sexuality. (Brief of Amici
44 (Nicolosi 2009). Other members of the Curiae 2003, 1)
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 367
Hence, the basic stance of the APA and Kinsey in 1948 and 1953 (Sexual Behavior
the American Psychiatric Association is in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in
that homosexuality is not a mental dis- the Human Female):
order but is rather a normal form of
human sexuality, and they propose that At the same time that the pathologizing
their stance is based on significant scienti- views of homosexuality in American psy-
fic evidence. chiatry and psychology were being
codified, countervailing evidence was
accumulating that this stigmatizing view
was ill founded. The publication of
SIGMUND FREUD
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
Both documents proceed by providing his- demonstrated that homosexuality was
torical reviews of homosexuality and more common than previously assumed,
psychoanalysis. One document begins with thus suggesting that such behaviors were
Sigmund Freud, who suggested that part of a continuum of sexual behaviors
homosexuality was “nothing to be ashamed and orientations. (Glassgold et al. 2009,
of, no vice, no degradation, it cannot be 22)
classified as an illness, but a variation of
sexual function” (Freud 1960, 21, 423–4). Implied in that statement is a “normal-
They note that Freud attempted to change ity” of the sexual behaviors, specifically
one woman’s sexual orientation, but after homosexuality, on the continuum; for a
failing to do so, “Freud concluded that study to be cited as “countervailing evi-
attempts to change homosexual sexual dence” of the claim that homosexuality is
orientation were likely to be unsuccessful” abnormal, the study must suggest that
(Glassgold et al. 2009, 21). homosexuality is normal. In other words,
It goes without saying that a letter the APA is suggesting the following based
written in 1935 is outdated—or anti- off of Kinsey’s books:
quated, depending on one’s choice of
1. In human beings, homosexuality has
words. Freud’s conclusion that changing a
been demonstrated to be more
homosexually inclined person’s sexual
common than previously assumed;
orientation is “likely impossible” after one
2. Therefore, there is a normal variation
try should qualify as a “suspect anecdote.”
(or a normal “continuum”) of sexual
Hence, Freud’s literature is deficient; it
attractions to different genders.
cannot support the proposition that homo-
sexuality is a normal variant of human Kinsey’s argument (that is adopted by
sexual orientation. (It is noteworthy that the APA) is equally as deficient as Freud’s.
Freud also suggested that homosexuality is A “continuum” is a “continuous sequence
a “variation of the sexual function produced in which adjacent elements are not percept-
by a certain arrest of sexual development” ibly different from each other, although the
[Herek 2012]. The omission of that line extremes are quite distinct” (New Oxford
from Freud’s work is misleading.) American Dictionary 2010, s.v. conti-
nuum). An example of a “continuum” is
temperature readings—“hot” and “cold” are
ALFRED KINSEY very different from each other, but 100 °F
and 99 °F are difficult to distinguish.
The APA Task Force document proceeds Kinsey explains his theory of continuums
by citing two books written by Alfred in nature:
368 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
The world is not to be divided into sheep persons with xenomelia desire a bilateral
and goats. Not all things are black nor all amputation” (Hilti et al. 2013, 319). One
things white. It is a fundamental of tax- study of 13 males noted that all of their
onomy that nature rarely deals with participants with xenomelia “longed for a leg
discrete categories. Only the human mind amputation” (Hilti et al. 2013, 324, empha-
invents categories and tries to force facts
sis added). Studies have reported that the
into separated pigeon-holes. The living
world is a continuum in each and every one
condition has an onset in early childhood
of its aspects. The sooner we learn this and that it may even be present since birth
concerning human sexual behavior the (Blom, Hennekam, and Denys 2012, 1). In
sooner we shall reach a sound under- other words, some individuals may be born
standing of the realities of sex. (Kinsey with the desire to remove or a “longing for”
and Pomeroy 1948, emphasis added) the removal of a healthy limb. It has also
been reported in a study of 54 individuals
In regards to homosexuality, Kinsey with the condition that 64.8 percent had a
(and the APA authors) concludes that university degree (Blom, Hennekam, and
because some people experience sexual Denys 2012, 2). One study suggested that
attraction to the same gender, then it the removal of healthy limbs results “in
automatically follows that there is a impressive improvement of quality of life”
normal continuum of sexual attractions. It for individuals with the condition (Blom,
does not take a PhD to identify the Hennekam, and Denys 2012, 3).
deficiency in the argument. The normality To summarize, then, there is a mental
of a behavior is not determined simply by condition in which people “desire” and
observing a behavior in society. This is the “long for” the removal of their healthy
case in all of medicine. limbs. This desire to remove healthy limbs
It may be easier to understand problems may be inborn, or in other words, people
with the argument by using examples of may be born with the desire to remove
observed human desires for specific their healthy limbs. This “desire” and
actions. Some human beings desire to “longing” is the same thing as an “incli-
remove healthy body parts; others desire to nation” or “tendency.” The “desire” or
cut themselves with razor blades, while “longing” is different from the action of
others desire to harm themselves in other having body parts removed, but both the
ways. These people are not necessarily inclination, desire, and longing as well as
suicidal; instead, they desire to remove the action of removal are considered disor-
their healthy limbs or they desire to inflict dered (Hilti et al. 2013, 324).1 The
harm on themselves without causing death. removal of healthy limbs is a disordered
These are two different conditions—one is action, and the desire for the removal of
known as “body integrity identity dis- healthy limbs is a disordered desire or a dis-
order,” “xenomelia,” or “apotemnophilia”; ordered inclination. The disordered desire
and the other is known as “nonsuicidal comes in the form of a thought, as is the
self-injury,” “self-mutilation,” or “self-harm.” case of most (if not all) desires. In many
Xenomelia is “the desire of a healthy cases, the disorder is present since child-
individual to have a fully functional limb hood. Finally, individuals who act on the
amputated” (Brugger, Lenggenhager and inclination to have a limb removed feel
Giummarra 2013, 1). It has been noted better after the limb is removed. In other
that “most subjects with xenomelia are words, those who act on their disordered
male,” that “the majority desire leg amputa- desire (disordered thoughts) and perform
tion” although a “considerable minority of the disordered action of removing a
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 369
Alfred Kinsey’s and the APA’s argument followed to its logical conclusion, entirely
(that is, if we follow the logic of Kinsey does away with any need for psychology or
and the APA) the argument would be as psychiatry; Kinsey wrote that “The living
follows: world is a continuum in each and every one
of its aspects” (emphasis added). If that
1. In human beings, it has been observed were the case then there would be no such
that some people are attracted to and thing as a mental disorder (or physical dis-
desire to cut themselves and remove order for that matter), and there would be
their healthy body parts; no need for those groups that diagnose
2. The attractions to cut oneself and and treat mental disorders. The desire to
remove one’s healthy body parts have be a serial killer would be, according to
been demonstrated to be more Kinsey’s logic, simply a normal variant on
common than previously assumed; the continuum of human desire. Hence,
3. Therefore, there is a normal variation the APA’s claim that Kinsey’s study is
of attractions to self-harm; there is a “countervailing evidence” against the claim
continuum of normal variations of that homosexuality is a pathology is
orientation to harm oneself. deficient and erroneous. The literature
does not support their conclusion, and the
Hence, we can see how illogical and
conclusion itself is absurd. (Additionally, it
deficient Kinsey’s and the APA’s argu-
should be noted that along with illogical
ment is; the observation that a behavior is
arguments, much of Kinsey’s research has
more common than previously assumed
been discredited [Browder 2004]. Kinsey
does not automatically lead to the con-
suggested that 10 percent of the U.S. male
clusion that there is a normal continuum
population “are gay or bisexual,” but recent
of behaviors. One would have to conclude
estimates suggest that 3.9 percent of the
that every human behavior observed is
U.S. male population have sex with men
simply one normal behavior on the “conti-
[Purcell et al. 2012, 98], and overall,
nuum” of human behaviors; if the desire
according to the U.S. Department of
to harm oneself or the desire to remove a
Health and Human Services, 1.6 percent
healthy limb is shown to be more
of Americans claim to be gay or lesbian,
common than previously assumed, then
while 0.7 percent claim to be bisexual.
(according to their logic) such behaviors
[Ward et al. 2014, 1].)
would be part of a normal continuum of
self-harm behaviors and orientations.
On one end of Kinsey’s spectrum would
be those who desire to kill themselves, C.S. FORD AND FRANK A. BEACH
while on the other end of the spectrum
there would be those who desire health Another source that was put forth as
and normal functioning of their body. scientific evidence that homosexuality is
Somewhere between, according to Kinsey’s not a mental disorder is a study by C.S.
logic, would be those who desire to cut Ford and Frank A. Beach. The APA
their arms, and next to them would be wrote:
those who desire to remove their arms C. S. Ford and Beach (1951) revealed
completely. This brings up the question— that same-sex behaviors and homosexu-
why are all behaviors not considered to be ality were present in a wide range of
normal variants of human behavior? animal species and human cultures. This
Kinsey’s continuum argument, when it is finding suggested that there was nothing
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 371
women. Prior studies primarily included Gonsiorek makes multiple claims that are
participants who were in distress or incar- similar to Evelyn Hooker’s. He wrote that
cerated. Second, quantitative methods to
assess human personality (e.g., Eysenck psychiatric diagnosis is legitimate, but its
Personality Inventory, Cattell’s Sixteen application to homosexuality is erroneous
Personality Factor Questionnaire [16PF]) and invalid because there is no empirical
and mental disorders (Minnesota Multi- justification for it. In other words, the
phasic Personality Inventory [MMPI]) diagnosis of homosexuality as an illness is
were developed and were a vast psycho- bad science. Therefore, whether one
metric improvement over prior measures, accepts or rejects the plausibility of the
such as the Rorschach, Thematic Apper- diagnostic enterprise in psychiatry, there
ception Test, and House-Tree-Person is no basis for viewing homosexuality as a
Test. Research conducted with these newly disease or as indicative of psychological
developed measures indicated that homosexual disturbance. (Gonsiorek 1991, 115)
men and women were essentially similar to
heterosexual men and women in adaptation Gonsiorek accuses others of using “bad
and functioning. (Glassgold et al. 2009, 23, science” to support the claim that homo-
emphasis added) sexuality is a disorder. Furthermore,
Gonsiorek suggests that “The only rel-
evant issue is whether any well-adjusted
That last line which I emphasized is
extremely important; the “newly developed homosexuals exist at all” (Gonsiorek 1991,
119–20) and
measures” compared the “adaptation” and
ability to function in society in homosex- Whether homosexuality per se is or is not
uals and heterosexuals and used the pathological and indicative of psychologi-
comparison to support the conclusion that cal disturbance is easily answered. As I
homosexuality is not a disorder. It should will discuss later, studies on a variety of
be noted here that “adaptation” has been samples have consistently concluded that
used interchangeably with “adjustment” there is no difference in psychological adjust-
(Jahoda 1958, 60–63; Seaton 2009, 796– ment between homosexuals and heterosexuals.
99). Hence, the APA again implies that Therefore, even if other studies find that
some homosexuals are disturbed, it cannot
because homosexual men and women were
be maintained that sexual orientation per se
“essentially similar” to men and women in
and psychological adjustment are related.
adjustment and social functioning, it (Gonsiorek 1991, 123–24, emphasis
necessarily follows that homosexuality is added)
not a mental disorder. That was the same
argument proposed by Evelyn Hooker; she Hence, Gonsiorek’s paper used “adjust-
supported her conclusion that homosexu- ment” as the endpoint measured. Again,
ality is not a pathology with data showing the scientific evidence referred to in the
that homosexuals and heterosexuals were claim that “homosexuality is normal and is
similar in “adjustment.” supported by scientific evidence as a normal
A review by John C. Gonsiorek is also behavior” measured the “adjustment” of
cited by the APA and the American Psy- homosexuals. Gonsiorek implies that if
chiatric Association as evidence that sexual orientation is “related” to psychologi-
homosexuality is not a disorder (Glassgold cal adjustment, then one could consider
et al. 2009, 23; Brief of Amici Curiae 2003, homosexually inclined people to be men-
11). The review is titled “The Empirical tally disordered; if, however, there is no
Basis for the Demise of the Illness Model difference in adjustment measurements of
of Homosexuality.” In the article, heterosexuals and homosexuals, then
374 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
often accompany severe forms of disorder. Without the clinical significance criterion,
For example, a diagnosis of pneumonia, the DSM-IV criteria correctly classify the
heart disease, cancer, or innumerable individual’s condition as a substance
other physical disorders can be made in dependence disorder. Applying the
the absence of subjective distress and DSM-IV clinical significance criterion, it
even if the individual is successfully func- is not a disorder. (Spitzer and Wakefield
tioning in all social roles. (Spitzer and 1999, 1861)
Wakefield 1999, 1862)
An additional disease that can be diag- Spitzer and Wakefield give other
nosed without distress or role functioning examples of mental disorders that would
failure that should be mentioned here is not be diagnosed if one looks only at clini-
HIV/AIDS; HIV has a long latent period, cally significant distress and social
and many people will not even be aware of functioning; among those are some of the
being HIV positive. It has been estimated paraphilias, Tourette’s disorder, and sexual
that 240,000 people are not aware that dysfunction (Spitzer and Wakefield 1999,
they have HIV (CDC 2014). 1860–1).
Spitzer and Wakefield imply that in Others have expanded on Spitzer’s and
many cases a disorder may be present even Wakefield’s discussion by noting that the
if an individual is functioning well in definition of mental disorder that relies on
society or if the individual scores well on adjustment (“distress or impairment in
measurements of “adjustment.” In some functioning”) is circular:
situations, appealing to measurements of
distress and impairment in social function-
ing leads to “false negatives,” which are Spitzer and Wakefield (1999) have been
instances in which an individual’s mental among the most prominent critics of the
condition is disordered but is not labeled clinical significance criterion, dismissing
its addition to DSM-IV as “strictly con-
as disordered (Spitzer and Wakefield
ceptual” (p. 1857) rather than empirical.
1999, 1856). Spitzer and Wakefield give
The vagueness and subjectivity of the cri-
multiple examples of mental conditions terion terminology are considered
that can be mis-diagnosed as false nega- particularly problematic and result in a
tives if social functioning or distress circular definition: a disorder is defined
(which they call the “clinical significance by clinically significant distress or impair-
criterion,” referring to clinically significant ment, which is distress or impairment
distress) are used as diagnosing criteria. significant enough to be considered a dis-
They wrote that order … Use of the clinical significance
criterion does not coincide with the per-
It is common to encounter individuals spective of general medicine that distress
who have lost control over their drug use or functional impairment is generally not
and are suffering various harms (e.g., required to make a diagnosis. Indeed,
threat to health) as a result (and who many asymptomatic conditions in general
therefore, to us, have a disorder) but who medicine are diagnosed based on knowl-
are not distressed and who can carry on edge of their profession or increased risk
successful role functioning. Consider, for for a poor outcome (e.g., early malignan-
example, the case of a successful stock- cies or HIV infection, hypertension). To
broker who is addicted to cocaine at a suggest that such disorders do not exist
level that is threatening his physical until they cause distress or disability
health but who has no distress and whose would be unthinkable. (Narrow and Kuhl
role performance has not suffered. 2011, 152–3, 147–62)
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 379
in society and do not show signs or symp- other negative emotional effects may result
toms of “mal-adjustment.” Some mental in conflict any time someone is told that
disorders seem to have a latent period or their behavior or habit is abnormal or
“waxing and waning” periods marked by unhealthy. In other words, one cannot
the ability to function in society and necessarily conclude that the depression
apparent normality. etc. results from stigma. That has to be
Homosexually inclined people, those scientifically demonstrated. It may be that
with delusional disorder, pedophiles, self- both are true: the depression, etc. are
injurers, plastic eaters, and anorexics can pathological and individuals who are
all function in society (again, at least for a homosexual are not seen as normal, which
certain time period) and may not always in turn adds to the individual’s distress.)
show signs of “maladjustment.” Psycho-
logical adjustment, then, is irrelevant to
some mental disorders; that is, research “ADJUSTMENT” AND SEXUAL DISORDERS
studies that look at measures of “adjust-
ment” as an endpoint are inadequate to Here I will need to go on a bit of a
determine the normalcy of psychological tangent and discuss the implications of
thought processes and their associated looking only at “adjustment” measures and
behaviors. Hence, the (outdated) studies social functioning to determine whether
that used psychological adjustment as their sexual behaviors and their associated
endpoints are deficient; they are not sufficient thought processes are mentally disordered.
to prove that homosexuality is not a mental Basically, looking at adjustment measure-
disorder. It follows, then, that the APA’s ments is both arbitrary and irrelevant to all
and the American Psychiatric Associ- psychosexual disorders. One should ask,
ation’s claim that homosexuality is not a why do the APA and American Psychia-
mental disorder is not supported by the tric Association solely look at “adjustment”
evidence they cite. The evidence they cite and social functioning measures in some
is irrelevant to their conclusion. It is an mental disorders but not in others? For
absurd conclusion arrived at from an irre- instance, why do they not look at other
levant premise. (In addition to the aspects of the paraphilias (sexual perver-
conclusion not following from the sions) that clearly indicate their mental
premise, Gonsiorek’s claim that there is no disorder liness? Why is a person who
difference between homosexuals and het- stimulates himself and masturbates to the
erosexuals in measures of depression and point of orgasm while fantasizing about
self-esteem also happens to be false in causing psychological or physical suffering
itself. Homosexually inclined people have in another person (a sexual sadist) not
been shown to be at higher risk of major mentally disordered, yet those with delu-
depression, anxiety, and suicidality than sional disorder are considered mentally
heterosexuals (Bailey 1999; Collingwood disordered? There are individuals who
2013; Fergusson et al. 1999; Herrell et al. believe that there is an infestation of
1999; Phelan et al. 2009; Sandfort et al. insects on or in the skin, when the evi-
2001); those statistics are often used to dence clearly shows they are not infested
conclude that discrimination harms homo- with insects; those individuals are diag-
sexuals, but it is another conclusion that nosed with delusional disorder. On the
does not necessarily follow from the other hand, there are men who believe
premise. Common sense informs the that they are actually women, there is evi-
inquirer that depression, anxiety, and dence that clearly indicates the contrary,
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 381
and yet those men are not diagnosed with “had leading positions at work, while 60.6
delusional disorder. percent had [sic] different forms of service
Individuals with other sexual disorders in the community, such as being a
have shown similar measurements of member of the local school board” (Sand-
adjustment as homosexuals. Exhibitionists, nabba et al. 1999, 275). So, both
also known as “exposers,” are those indi- sadomasochists and exposers apparently do
viduals who have intense urges to expose not necessarily exhibit problems with
their genitals to unsuspecting people in social functioning or distress (again, terms
order to sexually arouse the exposer (the which have been included under the
sexual arousal they seek is personal, that is, umbrella term “adjustment”).
in themselves, not necessarily in the Some have noted that the “defining fea-
unsuspecting person) (American Psychia- tures” of all of the sexual perversions or
tric Association 2013, 689). One source sexual deviances (also known as the para-
notes that philias) “may be limited to the individual’s
sexual behavior and causes minimal
One-half to two-thirds of exposers are
married, although marital and sexual
impairment in other areas of functioning”
adjustment is marginal. Intelligence, edu- (Adams et al. 2004). Furthermore, they
cational level, and vocational interests do suggest that
not differentiate them from the general
There are currently no universal and
population … Blair and Lanyon stated that
objective criteria for evaluating the adap-
most studies were consistent in reporting
tive value of sexual attitudes and
that exhibitionists suffered from inferiority
practices. Outside of sexual homicide, no
feelings and were viewed as timid and
sexual behavior is universally deemed dys-
unassertive, socially inept, and had pro-
functional … The rationale for excluding
blems expressing hostility. Other studies,
homosexuality from the category of sexual
however, have found that exposers are unre-
deviation category was apparently the lack
markable in terms of personality functioning.
of evidence that homosexuality per se is a
(Adams et al. 2004, emphasis added)
harmful dysfunction. Curiously, the same
The finding that those with “deviant” line of reasoning has not been applied to
sexual attractions can function in society is other “disorders” such as fetishism and
also observed in homosexual and hetero- consensual sadomasochism. We agree
with Laws and O’Donohue that such
sexual sadomasochists. Sexual sadism, as I
conditions are not inherently harmful and
mentioned previously, is “intense sexual
their inclusion in this category reflects an
arousal from the physical or psychological inconsistency in classification. (Adams
suffering of another person, as manifested et al. 2004)
by fantasies, urges, or behaviors” (Ameri-
can Psychiatric Association 2013, 695); Hence, they propose that the only
sexual masochism is “recurrent and intense sexual behavior that is “universally deemed
sexual arousal from the act of being humi- dysfunctional” (and therefore universally
liated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made considered to be a mental disorder) is
to suffer, as manifested by fantasies, urges sexual homicide. The conclusion is arrived
or behaviors” (American Psychiatric at by implying that any sexual behavior
Association 2013, 694). Sadomasochists in and associated thought processes that do
Finland were studied and were noted to not cause impairment in social functioning
be “socially well-adjusted” (Sandnabba or measures of “adjustment” is not a sexual
et al. 1999, 273); the authors noted that disorder. As I have explained up to this
61.0 percent of sadomasochists studied point, that premise is an error, and it leads
382 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
of a psychotic order.” (NARTH Institute premise that any thought process that does
n.d.) not cause maladjustment is not a mental
disorder.
It is alarming that a sadistic or pedophi-
One will see that the APA and the
lic fantasy could be considered not to meet
American Psychiatric Association have
the criteria for a mental disorder. Michael
dug themselves a deep hole with their
Woodworth et al. note that
assessment of sexual disorders. It seems
Sexual fantasy has been defined as almost that they have already normalized sexual
any mental imagery that is sexually arous- deviances as long as there is “consent” of
ing or erotic to the individual. The those individuals involved in the actions.
content of sexual fantasies varies greatly In order to be consistent with their logic
between individuals and is thought to be used to normalize homosexuality, they
highly dependent on internal and external must normalize all other sexual actions
stimuli, such as what individuals see,
that stimulate one to the point of orgasm
hear, and directly experience. (Wood-
worth et al. 2013, 145)
that do not cause bad measurements of
“adjustment” or result in impaired social
Sexual fantasies are images or thoughts functioning; it is true that they also allow
in the mind, they result in “arousal,” and it a diagnosis of a sexual disorder if a
is not a stretch to say that those fantasies deviance causes “harm” to another, but
are used to stimulate orgasm during mas- that is only if there is lack of consent.
turbation. The content of sexual fantasies Sadomasochism is basically stimulating
depends on what individuals see, hear, and oneself or another to orgasm by harming
directly experience. So, it is also not a someone or by being harmed by someone,
stretch to claim that a pedophile with and as I discussed previously, this is con-
young neighbor children has sexual fanta- sidered to be normal by the American
sies of those neighbors; it is also not a Psychiatric Association.
stretch to claim that a sexual sadist fanta- Some might call this paper a “slippery
sizes about causing psychological or slope” argument, but that is an incorrect
physical suffering in his or her neighbor. assessment of what I have proposed; the
Yet, if the sexual sadist or the pedophile American Psychiatric Association has
do not experience distress or impairment already normalized all orgasm-stimulating
of social functioning (again, those terms behaviors except those that cause “adjust-
are included under the umbrella term ment” problems (distress, etc.), problems
“adjustment”) or if they do not harm in social functioning, or harm or risk of
another person, then they are not con- harm to another person. The last part—
sidered to be mentally disordered. The “harm or risk of harm”—needs an asterisk
sexual images or thoughts about a because there are exceptions to that cri-
10-year-old in the mind of the terion; if there is consent, then an
54-year-old pedophile or the images or orgasm-stimulating behavior that results in
thoughts of a sexual sadist fantasizing harm is permitted, which is evident in the
about causing psychological or physical normalization of sadomasochism (This
suffering in his neighbor are not disor- explains why there is a push by pedophiles
dered unless they cause distress, to claim that young children are able to
impairment in social functioning, or harm consent to pedophilia (LaBarbera 2011);
of another person. they do not want to be considered to be
That is arbitrary, and it is an absurd mentally disordered either.). Hence, an
conclusion arrived at from the erroneous accusation that this paper proposes a
384 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
clear that penile-anal intercourse is phys- either “profound impairment of sperm for-
ically disordered and it causes physical mation (spermatogenesis) due to damage
harm as well. Since many men who have to the testes … or—more commonly—to
sex with men desire to perform those obstruction of the genital tract (e.g.,
physically disordered actions, it seems to resulting from vasectomy, gonorrhoea, or
follow that the desire to engage in such Chlamydia infection)” (Martin 2010, 68,
actions is disordered. Since desires occur s.v. azoospermia). Healthy males produce
at the “mental” or “thought” level, it spermatozoa, whereas medical impair-
follows that such male homosexual desires ments may result in no measurable
are mentally disordered. spermatozoa in semen. If there are objec-
Furthermore, the body has within it tive normal functions of body parts, then
various types of fluids. Those fluids are the malfunctioning or absence of one
“physical,” and they have proper physical body part does not necessarily result in
functions (again, that is simply a reality of normal change in function of another
medicine or health—the fluids in the body part. Such a claim would be similar
human body have proper functions). to claiming that healthy or normal plasma
Saliva, plasma, interstitial fluids, and tears does not function to deliver red blood
all have proper functions. For example, cells to the body because some people are
one proper function of plasma is to trans- anemic.)
port blood cells and nutrients to other It is also very evident that the body
parts of the body. has a “pleasure and pain” system (which
Semen is a male bodily fluid, and hence could also possibly be called “reward and
(unless one arbitrarily applies one’s own punishment system”). That pleasure-
rules to the field of medicine) semen has a and-pain system, like all other body
proper physical function (or multiple systems, has a proper function; its basic
proper functions) as well. Semen typically function is to act as a signal sender to
has within it many cells, known as sper- the body. The pleasure-and-pain system
matozoa, and those cells have a proper communicates to the body what is
location to be transported to—the cervical “good” verses what is “bad” for the body.
area of the woman. A physically ordered The pleasure-and-pain system, in a way,
sexual act of a male, then, would be one regulates human behavior; eating, excret-
in which the semen physically functions ing urinary and fecal waste, and sleeping
properly. Hence, another criteria for a are common human behaviors which
normal or “ordered” sexual behavior is one involve a degree or type of pleasure as a
in which the semen functions properly by motivator or reinforcer. Pain, on the
delivering spermatozoa to the female’s cer- other hand, is either an indicator of a
vical area. (Some might counter that some physically bad human behavior or a dis-
men experience azoospermia/aspermia, or ordered bodily organ; the pain associated
lack of measurable sperm in semen; they with touching a hot stove should steer
might conclude, then, that the healthy or one away from that behavior, while
proper function of semen is not delivering painful urination often indicates a
spermatozoa to the cervical area of the problem with a bodily organ.
woman, or they might suggest that, A person with “congenital insensitivity
according to my argument, aspermic indi- to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA)” cannot
viduals can place their ejaculate wherever feel pain, and hence, it is said that the
they wish. Azoospermia/aspermia is an pain system (using broad, non-medical
exception to the norm and a result of terms) is disordered. It does not send the
386 The Linacre Quarterly 82 (4) 2015
proper signals to the mind to assist in would be “lying” to the body in a sense. If
one’s bodily actions. The pleasure system the body felt the pleasure associated with a
can also be disordered, and this is observed full-night’s rest but had not actually rested
in individuals with “ageusia” who cannot at all, or the pleasure of urination or defe-
taste food. cation without actually urinating or
Now, orgasm is a special type of plea- defecating, eventually the body would
sure. It has been compared to the suffer significant ill-health.
drug-like high experienced by those who Thus, another criterion for determining
use opiates like heroine (Pfaus 2009, whether a sexual behavior is normal or dis-
1517). Orgasm, though, occurs normally ordered is whether the sexual behavior
in human beings who have properly func- causes a malfunctioning of the pleasure or
tioning sex organs. Some (apparently pain systems in the body.
including the American Psychiatric Finally, it should go without saying that
Association) have taken the stance that consent (and therefore appropriate
orgasm is a type of pleasure that is good in age-of-consent) is a criterion that should be
and of itself regardless of the circum- involved with determining healthy versus
stances surrounding the orgasm. Again, mentally disordered “sexual orientations.”
another paper is needed to show the flaws
in that argument, but basically, if those in
the field of medicine are to be consistent CONCLUSION
(and non-arbitrary), it seems that they
would have to acknowledge that the plea- The American Psychiatric Association and
sure associated with orgasm serves as a the APA provide the aforementioned
signal or a communication to the body studies as the scientific evidence that homo-
that something good occurred (it also sexuality is a normal variant of human
would have to be argued that orgasm sexual orientation. The APA noted that
occur in marriage, which again, requires homosexuality per se implies no impairment
another paper). That “something good” in judgment, stability, reliability, or general
associated with orgasm is the stimulation social and vocational capabilities. Further,
of the penis to the point of releasing the the APA urges all mental health pro-
semen near the cervix. Any other type of fessionals to take the lead in removing the
orgasmic stimulation (like any type of stigma of mental illness that has long been
masturbation—whether it is self- associated with homosexual orientations
stimulation, same-sex, or opposite-sex (Glassgold et al. 2009, 23–24).
masturbation) would be an abuse of the The Amici Curiae Brief reiterates the
pleasure system. same claim, and it supports the claim by
The abuse of the pleasure system that citing the aforementioned literature which
occurs during masturbation (and in all looked at “adjustment” and social func-
same-sex orgasm-stimulating actions) can tioning (Brief of Amici Curiae 2003, 11).
be better understood by referring to other As has been shown, though, adjustment
bodily pleasures. If one could press a and social functioning are irrelevant to
button that caused the “full” or “satiety” determining whether the sexual deviations
feeling associated with eating, one would are mental disorders. As a result, the
be abusing the pleasure system; the plea- scientific studies that only looked at
sure system would be sending a measures of adjustment and social func-
“false-reading” or an incorrect signal to the tioning draw erroneous conclusions and
rest of the body. The pleasure system result in “false negatives” as Spitzer,
Kinney – Homosexuality and scientific evidence 387
Wakefield, Bieber, and others have noted. disorders. The present summary and
Unfortunately, fatally flawed reasoning has analysis in this paper of the literature put
served as the basis for “rigorous” and forth as “rigorous” and “significant”
“scientific evidence” supporting the claim empirical evidence uncovers major
that homosexuality is not a mental dis- deficiencies—irrelevant, outdated, and
order but is rather a normal variant of absurd literature—and calls into question
human sexual orientation. the credibility of the APA and the Amer-
One cannot conclude (with Alfred ican Psychiatric Association’s discussion
Kinsey) that a human behavior is normal and identification of sexual disorders.
simply because it is more common than Indeed, suspect anecdotes and antiquated
previously assumed—otherwise all human data have been used in the debates sur-
behaviors, including serial killing, would rounding homosexuality, but the evidence
have to be considered normal. One cannot shows that even the authoritative sources
conclude (with C.S. Ford and Frank on mental disorders are guilty of those
A. Beach) that there is “nothing unnatural” charges.
about a behavior simply because it is
observed in both humans and animals—
otherwise cannibalism would have to be NOTES
considered to be natural. Most importantly,
One cannot conclude (with Evelyn 1. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th
Hooker, John C. Gonsiorek, the APA, the edition, does not consider body identity
integrity disorder to be a disorder; the
American Psychiatric Association, and DSM-5 writes: “Body identity integrity
others) that a mental condition is not dis- disorder (apotemnophilia) (which is not a
ordered because it does not result in DSM-5 disorder) involves a desire to have
“maladjustment,” distress, or impairment in a limb amputated to correct an experience
social functioning—otherwise, many of mismatch between a person’s sense of
body identity and his or her actual
mental disorders would have to be labeled anatomy.” See American Psychiatric
erroneously as normal. The conclusions Association (2014b, 246-7).
arrived at in the cited literature are not sup- 2. Thanks to an anonymous reviewer for this
ported by the premises proposed to be suggestion.
scientific fact; the faulty works cannot be
considered credible sources.
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