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07/20/2006

FOF again presents Spitzer in ways contrary to his wishes

by Jeremy Hooper

Under the "Can Gays Change?" section of their No Moo Lies web site (which is designed to challenge the gay-accepting Born Different campaign), the folks at Focus on the Family include this little passage as part of their gay-changing "proof":

Spitz-1

Only problem? The following are all quotes from Dr. Spitzer himself:

"I did not conclude that all gays should try to change, or even that they would be better off if they did. However, to my horror, some of the media reported the study as an attempt to show that homosexuality is a choice, and that substantial change is possible for any homosexual who decides to make the effort." [Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2001]

"Our sample was self-selected from people who already claimed they had made some change. We don't know how common that kind of change is. . . . I'm not saying that this can be easily done, or that most homosexuals who want to change can make this kind of change. I suspect it's quite unusual." [CNN, May 9, 2001]

"...I suspect the vast majority of gay people would be unable to alter by much a firmly established homosexual orientation." [Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2001]

"...the kinds of changes my subjects reported are highly unlikely to be available to the vast majority [of gays and lesbians]... "[only] a small minority -- perhaps 3% -- might have a "malleable" sexual orientation." He expressed a concern that his study results were being "twisted by the Christian right." [Advocate, July 17, 2001]

And just last month, Spitzer said to activist Wayne Besen about FOF's misuse of his study by one of their "ex-gay" speakers::

"Unfortunately Focus on the Family has once again reported findings of my study out of context to support their fight against gay rights"

Kind of funny they'd so boldly misrepresent Spitzer's findings, considering this is coming in the exact same week that they disputed another prominent researcher's claims that they'd also distorted her work. One would think that when the eye of scrutiny is so fully on their methodology, they would shape up for a moment. I mean, hell -- even the worst of kids are good when Santa's watching. Perhaps they simply don't care that just like the big guy in the red suit, we gays are also "making a list and checking it twice," so that the public at large can decide who's truly acting "naughty" and who's playing "nice."

For Springs, domestic partnership an issue in dog days of summer [Rocky Mountain News]

Also: Homosexuality is not a disorder to be cured [Another Voice/ Buffalo News]

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