Alan Osmond, best known for his years as one of the Osmond Family singers. (The one with the z~mutton chops) and who now currently serves on the high council of the Orem Suncrest Stake in Orem, Utah for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has penned an anti-gay article for the Mormon website The Family, which is run by “The Osmond Network LLC” and is linked to byt the “Official Osmond Family Website”
In his article, which is so misinformed, ill written and LDS cultlike you expect kool-aid to be served alongside of it, Osmond states that being gay is not genetic and that reperative therapy does work. He also goes on to quote LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley who has said in the past “Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We affirm those teachings.”
From Osmonds article (I have not proofed it or changed anything. This is verbatim )
First, it is important to understand that homosexuality is not innate and unchangeable. Research has NOT proved that homosexuality is genetic. Even more important, many researchers whose studies have been used to support a biological model forhomosexuality have determined that their work has been MISINTERPRETED. What is clear is that homosexuality results from an interaction of social, biological, and psychological factors. These factors may include temperament, personality traits, sexual abuse, familial factors, and treatment by one’s peers.
Developmental factors aside, can individuals diminish homosexual attraction and make changes in their lives? Yes. There is substantial evidence, both historical and current, to indicate this is the case. Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., a former Fellow atYale Universityand a graduate of MIT and Harvard, concludes:
“The fact that not all methods of treating those who struggle with homosexual attraction are successful, and that no method is successful for everyone, has been distorted by activists into the claim that no method is helpful for anyone. … The simple truth is that, like most methods in psychiatry and psychotherapy, the treatment of homosexuality has evolved out of eighty years of clinical experience, demonstrating approximately the same degree of success as, for example, the psychotherapy of depression.” Other researchers note treatment success rates that exceed 50 percent, which is similar to the success rates for treating other difficulties.
Now if Alan Osmond wants to be a hardcore homophobic Morom bigot no matter how offensive it is thats up to him.
But whats beyond offensive is the fact that the Osmond Family which is still after all these years one of the most famous Mormon families in the world, and who and has hundreds of thousands of fans, link to and supports these homophobic lies and misinformation.
Have any comments there Donny and Marie?
Two comments. His niece (Marie’s daughter) is a lesbian. Wonder how she feels. And this article will hopefully be more fuel against Willard Romney when he gets the nomination for the repub presidential race.
I can’t find the original article on the Osmond site, but that quote he used is from A. Dean Byrd in 1999 and can be found on LDS.org, which is actually worse, depending on how you look at it.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/09/when-a-loved-one-struggles-with-same-sex-attraction?lang=eng
Oh good grief. An ugly website, and when I look at what he writes, it’s clear he is also an ugly, smallminded person.
Even more scary: he promotes quack medicine (salt water can cure everything except smallminded viciousness, it would seem).
Interesting article. What’s more interesting, though, is that the headline isn’t supported by the content. I couldn’t care less about the Osmonds or what they think, but neither do I see anything in the quoted passage that qualifies as “anti-gay,” much less anything inaccurate.
“Many researchers whose studies have been used to support a biological model for homosexuality [really] have determined that their work has been misinterpreted.” It doesn’t matter what your opinion of homosexuality be; the facts remain that some studies have been used (for good and bad) in ways that the original researchers never intended, much less support.
“Homosexuality results from an interaction of social, biological, and psychological factors. These factors may include temperament, personality traits, sexual abuse, familial factors, and treatment by one’s peers.” Again, dead on. I’m not sure how anyone could argue differently. These factors appear in differing proportions for person to person, and it’s wholly possible that some factors might not be active in a particular individual at all. But the statement, as worded, is completely accurate.
“Developmental factors aside, can individuals diminish homosexual attraction and make changes in their lives? Yes. There is substantial evidence, both historical and current, to indicate this is the case.” Again, dead on. As the cited quote explains, there really are people that have overcome their same-sex attraction and lived long and fulfilling lives. Sure, some haven’t. Some have even become depressed enough to take their own lives, which is horrible. But the fact of the matter is that while there is no one-size-fits-all solution to same-sex attraction, there are plenty of people that have successfully “bridle[d] all [their] passions” (to use the common phrase), just like there are people that have successfully overcome all sorts of aberrant behaviors.
I think there are two main problems here: first, that people tend to toss around the word “homophobia” to describe any belief that doesn’t include the complete and wholesale acceptance of homosexuality as a fully appropriate lifestyle choice; and second, that people are genuinely afraid of differing beliefs, as evidenced by the extreme homophobophobia expressed in this article.
Sorry, guys. Bad show.
Bad show right back at ya.
Just because you say its so doesn’t make it true.
Everything from the 50% success rate to being gay having to do with social developement is misinformation according to the AMA and APA.
So therefore it is anti-gay and also propaganda to boot.
You don’t see supporting ex-gay therapy as being homophobic?
Just another Mormon Jesus freak thumping your bible beliefs around. After reading one of your blogs on your site (wish I could take back that page view) I can see you’ve rationalized your homophobia as well.
“Does it mean that we should legalize homorrhage? Heck no, for the same reason that we shouldn’t legalize murder. “I was born that way” does not constitute a valid defense for decriminalizing harmful behavior. (As an aside, homosexuals can get married and have that marriage recognized by the Church; they just can’t homorry and have it recognized. But I digress.)”
Fuck off Jeff. Really, just fuck off.
Anti-gay comments from this Osmond fellow:
“First, it is important to understand that homosexuality is not innate and unchangeable.”
“Developmental factors aside, can individuals diminish homosexual attraction and make changes in their lives? Yes.”
Then there’s his whole support of “reparative therapy”, which itself is just an offensive term since there is absolutely nothing to repair.
Then your amazingly insightful comment:
“I think there are two main problems here: first, that people tend to toss around the word “homophobia” to describe any belief that doesn’t include the complete and wholesale acceptance of homosexuality as a fully appropriate lifestyle choice;”
First of all, stop using the word homosexual, homosexuality, etc. It is a very clinical and outdated term. The proper terms are “gay”, “being gay”, etc.
Second, being gay is not a lifestyle choice. A lifestyle choice is whether to get married, whether to have kids, whether to move for a job, whether to continue education, whether to be a douchebag, etc. Being gay is part of your identity and has nothing to do with a lifestyle choice. Your sexual identity is immutable.
Third, yes, if you do not fully accept gay people for who they are, then that is homophobia.
It’s obvious that Jeff is as misinformed about the origins of homosexuality as our good friend Alan Osmond. The latest research supports the theory that homosexuality has genetic origins with an in utero chemical trigger. Temperament, personality traits, sexual abuse, familial factors, and treatment by one’s peers are not causal, but are all factors impacted by innate homosexuality.
At best, reparative therapy DIMINISHES homosexual desires in men who score 3-4 on the Kinsey Scale, men who would be considered bisexual rather than homosexual. It should be noted that it does not eliminate these desires. Over time, homosexual urges tend to re-emerge. Any benefit is at best temporary and can best be ascribed to suppression rather than actual cure.
What bothers me most about Osmond’s comments is that they continue to reinforce an out-dated stereotype that one is gay by choice and can become straight by “praying the gay away.” This false message results in a culture within the LDS Church that fosters misunderstanding at best and bigotry and hate at worst.
One thing I agree with in Jeff’s post is, do not throw the term homophobia or homophobe around indescriminately. The overuse will diminish it’s sting. Remember the OJ trial and the racial card ? Also I think that, at least some gays are reperable. You have to figure that in all the gays in the US, some of them might respond to therapy. I myself would not. I have craved male bubble butts since before I knew what sex was, as in second grade. So I think I was “born this way”. But as a community don’t be so arogant as to think that we know all the answers to gayness and its causes. It definately is not a choice. Why would I choose a life where my strong urges have to be masked and restrained as opposed to one where I can openly hug and kiss my sweetheart. I wouldn’t, and I believe that we are placed in this orientation because GOD wanted it that way. Why, no idea, I am not as smart as he is.
He should read this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8878301/Rugby-player-who-had-stroke-woke-up-gay-and-became-hairdresser.html
For me, this nails the lid shut on the Nature/Nurture debate. Homosexuality is wired into people. This guy had an accident that rewired him, so now is he is a homosexual. It could work the other way, if for example I had a stroke or an accident – I might end up heterosexual. The sheer vastness of the numbers of homosexuals on the planet, and the irreversibility of their orientation despite all they’re put through is gradually dawning on people as our confidence grows with the floodgates of empancipation now inching open.
Electroshock aversion therapy and the administration of nausia-producing drugs to males at Brigham Young University was a total failure. One must assume that these individuals were highly motivated to change (for reasons to complex to discuss in detail here). If administering electric shocks to the genitalia of highly motivated men was ineffective, what are the chances that a group hug form of therapy will be effective? Like so many others of his ilk, Alan Osmond is living in a fantasy world.
I have a cure for it…get straight people to stop producing the little buggers…lol If all the people of the world were straight, this poor old world would have over populated long ago. I love the Osmonds but Alan is by far not educated enough to understand the different types of human nature. Why don’t people like him try and stop people who rape, kill, murder women and children. They hardly ever mention these deviants in the world but someone gay, and cripes the shit hits the fan. Being gay isn’t about sex.
Marie has a daughter who is GAY…wonder how she feels about this stuff…would like her to make a statment!!
People….we are here to do God’s will! His will is sacred..! We are NOT here to do whatever we want free for all! God said, NO and he meant it! He created marriage read the Bible it was not Adam and Steve or Eve and Betty! It was Adam and Eve!!! You can change all the rules and laws in the world you want to….the answer on being Gay from God is NO!!! End deal…he has spoken! Respect it!! Because if you don’t…his laws are very serious if broken! Stop thinking everything is about us humans! There is a greater plan at hand…..get it right! What part of NO don’t liberals on gay understand???? Toying with God is just WOW arrogant and bratish….God give me my way or else….God say’s….Obey my commandments…he was no kidding!.
You non-lds people have it all wrong; the church is NOT a cult; (find out what the Church REALLY believes in; we are members of a RELIGION!). We do NOT practice homophobia; do NOT recognize same sex unions. We believe that homosexual and lesbian unions can be changed (there are classes for that purpose, and other similar behaviors), and, homosexuals and lesbians, like everyone else, CHOOSE what he/she will do with their lives. We do NOT cause a culture shock, thru misunderstanding, hate, and bigotry; about this, or any subject. We do NOT compromise, by condoning the sin, or, any other circumstance, either; however, we love the sinner. Also, God will NEVER allow homosexuals and lesbians to enter His kingdom; and that is true for their children, too. (This can be found in The Bible; look it up, read it, and be enlightened!). This because He is justifiable, and MUST bring about righteous judgement, for the sake of the righteous, who He would show mercy for. (It is NEVER a good idea to rationalize about the truth.). Lastly, all people like Alan Osmond speak of the facts, not fiction; does not live in a fantasy world; and, he, like all righteous people, does NOT make it a point to “thump the Bible”, and is not a “Jesus Freak.” Come on, people, get your facts straight; set a good example for one another; live, and let live; and live your lives by way of “The Golden Rule”, and the original Cecil B. DeMille movie, “The10 Commandments”, every day. And, by all means, learn to love one another, the way God and His Son, Jesus Christ loves each of us, unconditional; we should have no animosity of any kind; no judging of one another, because it is not right, not necessary. “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin, with me!”