Homosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints (1999)

This article is about the second EDition ofHomosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints; for the first edition seeHomosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints(1993); for the third edition seeHomosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints(2003); for the fourth edition seeHomosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints(2006).

Homosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints is a book, in the Opposing Viewpoints series, presenting selections of contrasting points of view on four central questions about homosexuality: what causes it; whether homosexuals face serious discrimination; whether society should encourage increased acceptance of it; and whether society should sanction Gay and Lesbian families. It was edited by Mary E. Williams.

It was published by Greenhaven Press (San Diego) in 1999 as a 218-page hardcover (ISBN 0-7377-0053-X) and paperback (ISBN 0-7377-0052-1).

Contents

Chapter

Viewpoint

Author

Notes

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints?

Introduction

Chapter 1: What Causes Homosexuality?

1. Homosexuality Is Biologically Determined

Steve Kangas

Reprint of "Gay Politics, Gay Science," web article dated November 7, 1997.

2. A Biological Basis for Homosexuality Has Not Been Proven

Steve Calverley and Rob Goetze

Reprint of "Are People 'Born Gay'? A Look at the Most Cited Biological Research Studies," web article from New Direction for Life Ministries, September 22, 1998.

3. The Causes of Homosexuality Are Probably Genetic

Richard Pillard

Excerpt from "The Genetic Theory of [...] Orientation," The Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review, Winter 1997.

4. The Causes of Homosexuality Are Probably Environmental

Part I: Illinois Family Institute, Part II: Cal Thomas

Part I: Excerpt from "Summary Statement on Homosexuality," 1997. Part II: Reprint of "Gay Conversion: A Reality Psychologists Ignore," Christian American, January/February 1998.

5. A Variety of Factors May Cause Homosexuality

Charles Lopresto

Reprint of "Lopresto's guest column" on The Gay Gene website edited by Chandler Burr.

6. The Causes of Homosexuality Are Irrelevant

Erin Blades

Reprint of "The Gay Gene: What Does It Matter?," The Peak, February 1996.

7. The Causes of Homosexuality Are Not Irrelevant

Simon LeVay

Reprint of "The Queer Gene Unleashed," The Mail and Guardian, December 17, 1996.

Chapter 2: Do Homosexuals Face Serious Discrimination?

1. Homosexuals Are an Oppressed Minority

Brian R. Allen

Excerpt from "Do Homosexuals Constitute a Legitimate Minority?," web article, 1996.

2. Homosexuals Are Not an Oppressed Minority

Elizabeth Wright

Excerpt from "In the Name of 'Civil Rights'," Issues and Views, Spring 1996.

3. Homosexuals Need Antidiscrimination Laws

American Civil Liberties Union

Reprint of the ACLU's testimony on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — H.R. 1863 before the Subcommittee on Government Programs, Committee on Small Business, U.S. House of Representatives, July 17, 1996.

4. Homosexuals Do Not Need Antidiscrimination Laws

Concerned Women for America

Excerpt from "Big Bad Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act," November 1997 policy paper.

5. Homophobia Increases the [...] Risk for Gay Teens

Frances Snowder

Reprint of "Preventing Gay Teen [...]," in Open Lives, Safe Schools, edited by Donovan R. Walling (Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, 1996, ISBN 0-87367-485-5).

6. The Problem of Gay Teen [...] Has Been Exaggerated

Philip Jenkins

Excerpt from "One in Ten: A Gay Mythology," Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture, October 1996.

7. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy Is a Failure

Andrew Sullivan

Reprint of "Undone by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'," The New York Times, April 9, 1998.

8. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy Could Be Beneficial

Lars-Erik Nelson

Reprint of "Straights, Gays, False Charges," Liberal Opinion Week, March 25, 1996.

Chapter 3: Should Society Encourage Increased Acceptance of Homosexuality?

1. Society Should Encourage Increased Acceptance of Homosexuality

Rayford Kytle

Adapted from Kytle's speech to employees of the U.S. Public Health Service, December 1993.

2. Society Should Not Encourage Increased Acceptance of Homosexuality

The Ramsey Colloquium

Excerpt from "Morality and Homosexuality," First Things, March 1994.

3. Christians Should Accept Homosexuality

Alice Ogden Bellis

Reprint of "When God Makes a Way," The Other Side, March/April 28, 1995.

4. Christians Should Not Accept Homosexuality

D. James Kennedy

Reprint of "Leading Voices Under Attack," Moody, March 1996.

5. Schools Should Stress Acceptance of Homosexuality

Shelly Reese

Reprint of "The Law and Gay Bashing in School," High Strides, 20 May 1997.

6. Schools Should Not Stress Acceptance of Homosexuality

Ed Vitagliano

Abridged from AFA Journal, June 1997.

7. Therapists Should "Help" People Overcome Unwanted Homosexuality

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality

Reprint of "New Study Confirms Homosexuality Can Be Overcome," NARTH Bulletin, August 1997.

8. Therapists Should Not Try to Change Anyone's [...] Orientation

American Psychological Association

Reprint of "Answers to Your Questions About [...] Orientation and Homosexuality," July 1998.

Chapter 4: Should Society Sanction Gay and Lesbian Families?

1. Society Should Allow Same-[...] Marriage

Ralph Wedgwood

Reprint of "What Are We Fighting For?," The Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review, Fall 1997.

2. Society Should Not Allow Same-[...] Marriage

Burman Skrable

Excerpt from "Homosexual Marriage: Much to Fear," Culture Wars, October 1996.

3. The Roman Catholic Church Should Sanction Gay Marriage

Andrew Sullivan

Reprint of "What You Do," The New Republic March 18, 1996.

4. The Roman Catholic Church Cannot Sanction Gay Marriage

Joseph Charron and William Skylstad

Reprint of "Statement on Same [...]-Unions," Origins, August 1, 1996.

5. Homosexual Parenting Is Harmful to Children

Robert H. Knight and Daniel S. Garcia

Reprint of "Homosexual Parenting: Bad for Children, Bad for Society," Family Research Council Insight, May 1994.

6. Homosexual Parenting Is Not Harmful to Children

Gary Sanders

Reprint of "Normal Families: Research on Gay and Lesbian Parenting," In The Family, Nov/Dec 1997.

For Further Discussion

Organizations to Contact

Bibliography of Books

Index