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Myths and Facts about Sexual Orientation and Change Myth: No one has ever changed their sexual attractions from gay to straight. Fact: Many people report such changes, some with the help of counseling, some with the support of their religious beliefs and some spontaneously without any conscious attempt to change. Dr. Robert Spitzer interviewed 200 people who were involved in efforts to change sexuality and found that nearly one-third of men and two-thirds of women had become almost completely untroubled by homosexual desires as the result of efforts to change. Others in the study also reported change to a lesser degree. Myth: People who work to change their sexual orientation are damaging themselves in a fruitless act of self-rejection. Fact: Studies have repeatedly shown that many who are motivated to change same-sex attraction are able to see various degrees of change. In addition, research has shown that a small number of people have experience harm from some approaches to sexual reorientation. However, the decision to live in accordance with biblical teaching concerning homosexuality has not been shown to be harmful. Myth: People who attempt to change sexual orientation are doomed to experience depression and suicide attempts. Fact: In Dr. Robert Spitzer’s study of 200 ex-gays, he found that 43% of men and 47% of women were clinically depressed prior to engaging in an effort to change. After counseling, only 1% of men and 4% of women felt similarly depressed. Myth: All of the founders of ex-gay support groups and ministries have reverted to homosexuality. Fact: Not true: For instance, 80% of the founding board of Exodus International, the largest ex-gay ministry, are still ex-gay, 30 years after the founding of the ministry. Myth: People who are religious have sexual hang-ups and are unable to enjoy sex later in life. Fact: Religious people report the same or higher levels of sexual satisfaction as non- religious people do Myth: Those who disagree with gay and lesbian sexual behavior are homophobic Fact: Disagreement with certain forms of sexual behavior or with a pro-gay agenda in the schools or in public policy is not bigotry it is political worldview diversity. One can and should be respectful of gay and lesbian people without needing to agree with their worldview. Myth: 10% of the general population is either gay, lesbian or bisexual Fact: Most surveys put the percentage of those who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual at around 4% of the general population. A recent census survey in Canada found between 1-2% of the general population identified as gay or lesbian. |
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