Homosexuality: Legally Permissible or Spiritually Misguided?1

Lockard, HomosexualityA more recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago(UIC) was published in March 2005. Psychologist Brian Mustanski led theteam. UIC press release boasted the following:In the first-ever study combining the entire human genome forgenetic determinism of male sexual orientation . . ., we haveidentified several areas that appear to influence whether a manis heterosexual or ‘gay’ (AFA 2005).Dr Warren Throckmorton, professor of Grove City College in Pennslyvania,conducted a very thorough critique of Mustanski’s study. He cites admissionsby the researchers that their evidence of genetic differences betweenheterosexual and homosexual men falls short of being statistically significant.Three members of NARTH also reviewed Mustanski’s study and found it tobe lacking. One member, Dr. Dean Byrd states:Sexual orientation involves complex behaviors which involvemultiple factors. Homosexuality might involve predispositionsthat are strongly influenced by cultural and environmentalfactors. (AFA 2005:1).Behavior scientists tell us that in understanding the theory in genetics-ofbehavior,one must clearly comprehend two major principles that guide theresearch: (a) heritable does not mean inherited; (b) genetics-of-behaviourresearch which is valid will identify and then focus only on traits that aredirectly inherited (NARTH 2004).Reputable scientists concur that although almost every human characteristic ispotentially heritable, few human behavioural traits are directly inherited.Inherited means directly determined by genes and changing the environmentof a person will not prevent or modify the trait (e.g., eye colour or height).Even Dr Hamer, who, following his landmark study in 1991, was donned the“gay gene guru”, now recognises the multifactorial components tohomosexuality. He was later poignantly quoted in several sources:“Environmental factors play a role. There is not a single master gene thatmakes people gay…. I don’t think we will ever be able to predict who will begay” (Fryrear 2006:1). Five years after Hamer’s study was published, he152