Source: wthrockmorton.com
In an attempt to further evaluate the problems with Paul Cameron’s latest study, Dr. Warren Throckmorton asked Morten Frisch, Danish epidemiologist, to review the Cameron’s paper. Among other things, Frisch had this to say:
Cameron and Cameron’s report on “life expectancy” in homosexuals vs heterosexuals is severely methodologically flawed.
It is no wonder why this pseudo-scientific report claiming a drastically shorter life expectancy in homosexuals compared with heterosexuals has been published on the internet without preceding scientific peer-review (https://www.earnedmedia.org/frireport.htm). The authors should know, and as PhD’s they presumably do, that this report has little to do with science. It is hard to escape the idea that non-scientific motifs have driven the authors to make this report public. The methodological flaws are of such a grave nature that no decent peer-reviewed scientific journal should let it pass for publication.
It is disgraceful that one can trace so many of the negative “statistics” found in articles published by ex-gay and anti-gay organizations right back to Paul Cameron and his work. It is often hidden through several degrees of separation, but more often than not he, and apparently now his son, are the ultimate source.
Read Dr. Frisch’s full response and Dr. Throckmorton’s comments on his blog.
I did not make the connection until this whole newest Cameron study thing came out that Kirk Cameron was his son. That changes my entire perception of Kirk Cameron and the tale of his conversion to Christianity.
popsiclestand: Just to avoid confusion it should probably be noted that “Dr. Kirk Cameron” is the son of Paul Cameron. “Kirk Cameron” (the Actor from Growing Pains and the leader of “Way of the Master” ministries) is the son of Robert Cameron. Everything I can find suggests they’re two entirely different individuals.
Oh, okay. Thanks for that. I think many blogs have not made that clear.
you’re very welcome
On the Cameron “study” though, I think Timothy had an EXCELLENT point when looking over the data in Dr. Throckmorton’s first post provided by Cameron. Cameron appeared, even in the table he used to defend himself to be measuring different things. Such a simple mistake would drive any person with any knowledge of statistics absolutely bananas, from somebody with Cameron’s education it should indicate that he has a pretty obvious agenda.
Oh, most definitely. I read the whole post and even though I abhorred taking statistics, it is obvious that his agenda overrode any semblance of methodology. Even his sampling techniques (looking at the obituaries in gay news publications) were flawed. Maybe he’s never taken elementary stats?
I participated in the Black Women’s Health Study a few years ago. They send an extensive questionnaire and follow up months later with a phone call. There is also a black man’s health study.
Mind you, as I’m sure you know, the CDC and NIH gets their information from hospital and clinic records, whereas there might be interest in health in ethnic minorities, women or persons who are elderly.
It’s been very widely known for a long time, that the bias in medicine, psychiatry and insurance has an effect on the life expectancies on various groups.
At the bottom of the list, are black women….and gays and lesbians.
Outsider status, or isolation from care would contribute also to shortened lifespans or preventive, proactive, comprehensive and effective care.
Medical professionals can be very intimidating to those who have experienced bias. Trust is difficult to attain, or sometimes it’s broken.
Black women’s health is highly compromised because of income levels, lack of medical screening and less likelihood to be insured.
Black men’s health is also compromised for the same reasons.
And our life expectancy is shorter than that of white people and Asians.
So to draw from Cameron’s conclusion, the fact that blacks have a tougher time with staying healthy and living longer would mean black people would have to be FURTHER isolated and kept from the institutions and support that promote longer lives and security.
In other words, blacks wouldn’t deserve any consideration for job, education, marriage or other protections because statistically their short lives…or shorterl lives than the majority don’t warrant the concern or civil protection under the law.
What fragged and torturous logic Cameron is capable of.
I’ll never forget how the anti gay jumped all over the higher incidence of breast cancer in lesbians.
What they LEFT OUT completely from the report is the higher incidence or risk, is in women WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN PREGNANT OR HAD CHILDREN.
Who would most likely be lesbians. Or unmarried women.
In truth, an ovulation hormone can cause tumors and can be fed by any given female hormone. However, it was found that pregnancy temporarily inhibits this hormone and the ovaries rest for the duration of the pregnancy. This was important to not only how many pregnancies, but how far apart.
So, it was recommended that women who have never been, nor ever will be pregnant, should be given Depo-Provera to reduce the risk of cancer. DP shots shut down the ovulation process, therefore resting the ovaries from producing the cancer causing hormone.
For people like FOTF and the FRC to make this female cancer issue, or the myth of shortened gay male lifespans a screed on homosexuality is dangerous to your health, is grossly irresponsible.
And doctors, or any other person worthy of their credentials, wouldn’t use fear….fear mind you, to foster a political agenda, not medical support and access.
And not for making medical access a priority for everyone.
THAT is how you know the Camerons and Jeffrey Satinovers contribute more to the problem, than they care to solve it.
And a doctor’s oath after all, is to first do no harm.
This distorted data has been making the rounds in a big way, since the evangelical community embraces it so readily. One of the most talked-about examples is a piece from Michael Craven (here: https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11536749/) where he uses it as an example of why homosexual relationships are so bad.
Oh well. Not like this is a new thing.
Looks to me like Craven “vanished” that blog post you’re referring to.
Google’s backup of the Craven article is still up.