Myths
Everybody fits into a “letter”. You’re either LGB or T.
In reality I think we’re all a little “Q”. Sexuality is a spectrum.
Not being straight makes you unsafe to whatever gender you are attracted to.
Can we just start having consent and self control talks instead of the don’t be alone with someone of the opposite sex talk?
We’re sex addicts.
Nope. Normal sex lives, just like yours. OK, maybe not. We’re newlyweds. But pretty much.
We were abused or have some trauma that “made us this way”.
This is hard to prove scientifically because there does seem to be a correlation between not being straight and maltreatment in childhood. But did abuse cause a change in sexual orientation? Or, as some studies suggest, does being gay cause others to inflict abuse? But lots of anecdotal evidence. It’s not true for us, and there are lots and lots of straight people out there with a history of trauma or abuse.
You can pray the gay away.
Every reputable health and mental health organization or association hold a clear position on conversion therapy. These include the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American College of Physicians, the American Counseling Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American School Health Association, the National Assocation of Social Workers, the World Health Organization, the World Psychiatric Assocation…and many many more! Their stance is that in effect there is zero evidence that conversion therapy works or has any positive effect on members of the LGBTQ community and that it in fact can cause substantial harm. Every one of these organizations states that a specific sexual orientation is not any kind of disorder but is in fact normal.
There is however evidence that an environment that does not support this population does cause harm. For example, research on the issue of family acceptance of LGBTQ youth conducted at San Francisco State University found that “compared with LGBTQ young people who were not rejected or were only a little rejected by their parents and caregivers because of their gay or transgender identity, highly rejected LGBTQ young people were 8 times more likely to attempt suicide, 6 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3 times as likely to use illegal drugs, and 3 times as likely to be high risk for HIV and STDs.
Again, these statistics are not about being gay or transgender. They are about gay and transgender individuals being supported!
That it’s a sin. And that you can love the sinner and hate the sin.
Gay and lesbian college students are 38% more likely to contemplate suicide if they are heavily involved in faith communities. (52% if you only look at lesbian students!)
It is impossible to say you love someone while at the same time would vote against them to have basic
rights like marriage or adopting children.
That there needs to be a masculine and a feminine role in the home.
This goes back to outdated concepts of traditional gender roles.
That it is “unnatural”.
Often referred to as puzzle pieces—because the parts don’t fit together, they are “unnatural.” this neglects female pleasure and evidence found within the animal kingdom.
Sex is not only about procreation.
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