GfS, you are, indeed, a liar. Or you, too, flunked remedial reading. I never said that same-sex orientation is genetic. I said—and cited a number of articles (Scientific American, for example), presenting the case that there is strong evidence to indicate that sexual orientation is genetic, although as yet the genes themselves have not been located. There ARE differences between the brain structures of heterosexuals and homosexuals, but at this point it is not known for certain if these differences are the cause or the result.

That is a scientific and carefully reasoned position at this stage of the research, holding ultimate conclusions in abeyance, pending further research.

You, on the other hand, have claimed unequivocally that homosexuality is a matter of free choice, and that it can be cured through counseling—

And then, you went on to claim that YOU were a counselor and HAVE cured homosexuals of their homosexuality. By the way, don't try to deny that you claimed this, because I can link people to the posts where you said it.

In carefully monitored studies of attempts to "cure" homosexuality through counseling, often including such methods as "aversion therapy" (Example: presenting some manner of homoerotic stimulus and then subjecting the patient to electric shock), the figures indicated that the counseling and therapy were either totally ineffective or were actually psychologically damaging to the subject. Out of two hundred subjects, after the course of treatment, there was, within a few months, a 68% recidivism rate, some 23% abstained from sex altogether, determining to remain celibate, about 30% (note that these percentages are not exclusive; there were overlaps) had to be treated for severe depression, and six of the subjects committed suicide. Other attempts at "conversion therapy" have produced similar results.

So much for "curing" same-sex orientation through counseling.

By the way, GfS, if you were EVER any kind of counselor, then I am the Grand Exalted PooBah of the Nine Galaxies!

And, GfS, before you try to do a riff on me, I am not homosexual, never have been homosexual, don't plan on becoming homosexual, and have never engaged in any kind of homosexual relationship or activity. And I have been happily married—to a woman of great loveliness and talent—for thirty-four years.

You, on the other hand, have indicated in former threads (although you later denied it) that you have very good reason to be afraid of your own genetic make-up, hence your knee-jerk reaction to any mention of the possibility that genes have anything to do with sexual orientation.

Stop chewing your fingernails. It's a nervous habit and it's unsightly.

Don Firth

P. S.   New York State has just taken a long step toward civilization.