Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse’s book Ex-Gays? discusses the controversy about a very specific issue and we want today to begin our series today by looking at chp 1:
About four decades ago homosexuality was seen as a disorder; today the shift leads to the conclusion that anyone who wants to change a homosexual person creates a disorder in the homosexual. The American Psychological Association argues that homosexuality is not changeable (16). J-Y contend that the APA has misspoken — some can change and some do change and some change as a result of religious means.
J-Y discuss the relationship of science and religion at length, arguing for instance that all of our data are theory-laden (at least when they are interpreted or explained).
On sexual orientation — extensive discussion again leading to three basic categories — and they are sensitive (so it seems to me) to the various terms used today:
1. Same-sex/homosexual attraction: those who find sexual attraction to those of the same sex.
2. Same-sex/homosexual orientation: those who are not only attracted to those of the same sex but how are persistently attracted to the same sex.
3. Gay identity: those whose orientation forms into a more overt identity with the gay community.
They cite a study by Laumann that 6.2% males and 4.4% of females are #1; that 2.0/0.9% have the orientation while less develop gay identity.
J-Y’s conclusions are a self-confessed “anomaly” in the scientific community.