Focus on the Family must be satisfied with what little scientific study has been done on gays and ex-gays.
What makes me say that? Well, Focus on the Family has been lobbying for the shutdown of federally funded and hosted research into sexual orientation. It has also sought recently to halt studies into the means and extent to which sexually transmitted diseases spread among high-risk populations, such as male truckers who have unsafe sex with other male truckers.
Here are some of the recent Focus on the Family public appeals to stop scientific research that might result in sexual knowledge, public education, and disease-prevention methods that extend beyond Focus’ abstinence-only prescription.
NIH Chief Defends Sex Studies, Feb. 2, 2004
Funding for Sex-Habits Studies to Proceed, July 14, 2003
Feds Fund Sexual Arousal Conference, June 25, 2003
Efforts to give people knowledge and choices in how to protect themselves seem to anger Focus on the Family. The abstinence-or-death rallying cry reflects poorly on James Dobson’s organization, which we are told is dedicated to Christian values such as compassion, mercy, and good health.
In response, the American Psychological Association is helping to circulate a petition by the Coalition to Protect Research. The petition seeks support among health-care professionals for research into sexual health, orientation, and disease prevention.
And wouldn’t studying truck-stop-prostitutes help Christians learn how to more effectively reach out and convert such people?
There is nothing particulary shocking (much less anti-gay) about a conservative organization protesting the use of tax dollars to fund sexuality research.
Let’s not forget the church once forbid the dissecting of cadavers for scientific study. Where did that lead to? Only that little thing we call modern surgery and medicine.
Marty is correct that there is nothing anti-gay per se about opposing tax funded government sex research, but don’t get the idea that these various anti-gay organizations are full of libertarians. These folks generally have no problem with the government spending tax money on abstinence education and other such things which fit into their agenda.
>James Dobson’s organization, which we are told is dedicated to Christian values such as compassion, mercy, and good health.
Someone told you that compassion, mercy and good health are christian values? Give me a break.
Actually, raj, they are. I would have ammended your post, to whit:
Someone told you that James Dobson’s organization is dedicated to Christian values? Give me a break!
I would amend it even further to express that
compassion, mercy and good health are not “exclusively” christian values. Some Christians have these (and some christians have LOTS of these kinds of virtues), but so do many others, including Buddhists, Wiccans, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, humanists, atheists, etc. And I like Sharon’s addition, too… I don’t believe Dobson is dedicated to anything resembling any christian virtues.
Yes, he was actually actively campaigning against Senator Specter in PA. Too bad his candidate lost (sarcasm). They almost always do -they’re too far right for even Republicans!