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FIRST-PERSON: Gay parents … gay children?


ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)–The results of a recently released study by a California psychologist are being all but ignored by the mainstream media. One possible motive for the lack of media attention is that psychologist Trayce L. Hansen’s research discovered that “children reared by openly homosexual parents are more likely to engage in homosexual behavior than children raised by others.”

According to Hansen, “Studies thus far find between 8% and 21% of homosexually parented children ultimately identify as non-heterosexual.” The most reliable studies indicate that approximately 2 percent of the population is non-heterosexual. Thus Hansen’s research has concluded, “[I]f these percentages continue to hold true, children of homosexuals have a 4 to 10 times greater likelihood of developing non-heterosexual preferences than other children.”

Hansen is a licensed psychologist with a clinic and forensic practice. She earned a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology located in San Diego.

While Hansen makes it clear that the research is not definitive, she indicates that it does suggest the conclusions concerning homosexual parenting are accurate.

It is worth noting that past studies suggesting possible “support” for a genetic or biological basis for homosexuality always indicated that the research was anything but definitive. That said, the media never questioned the veracity of the findings and, more times than not, reported them as factual. As a result, the theory that homosexuality is genetic is widely accepted as fact.

Hansen’s research seriously calls into question the theoretical conclusions of a genetic component being the cause for homosexuality.

If homosexual behavior was rooted in biology, one would expect the percentage of homosexuals in the general population, which is around 2 percent, to be reflected across the board in families. In other words, the incident of non-heterosexual children should be the same coming from a home with homosexual parents as it is in a home with heterosexual parents. According to Hansen’s finding, that is not the case.

Adding to the strength of Hansen’s conclusion is the criteria for which she conducted her research. Hansen explains that she “conducted a review of all the studies I could locate which assessed sexual preference in homosexually parented children.”

Her two main criteria for studies to include in her review were:

1) “[T]he authors of the study had to be pro-homosexual researchers” Why? Otherwise, she “was concerned that critics would simply disregard the results.”

2) She “only sought studies that utilized subjects 18 years of age or older, since many individuals don’t self-identify as non-heterosexual until after that age.” Unfortunately, she said, “few studies met the minimum 18-years-of-age criteria.” So, “in order to maximize the number of studies in my survey, I included studies with subjects as young as 14. Because of the inclusion of studies with such young subjects, the reported percentages of non-heterosexual children may be under-estimates.”

Hansen also found that pro-homosexual researchers that did discover “sexual preference differences between homosexuality and heterosexuality parented children, nonetheless declared in their research summaries that no differences were found.”

I find it unconscionable that a researcher would skew his or her findings in order to promote a sociopolitical agenda, especially when that research would affect the lives and futures of children. However, according to Hansen’s findings, that is exactly what has occurred.

Sadly, too many in the world of politics and media accept without question the false findings of pro-homosexuality researchers. As a result, some states allow homosexual couples to not only provide foster care but to also adopt children. In each and every case, the lives of children are being adversely affected.

“Findings from the best and most recent twin studies have found that homosexuality, unlike eye color, is not genetically–caused,” Hansen writes. “But there are a number of non-genetic mechanisms through which homosexuality could be transmitted from one generation to the next. Those mechanisms include role-modeling, social learning and differential reinforcement, as well as outright encouragement of non-heterosexuality by parents or others.”

Hansen’s research has only confirmed what is readily accepted as common sense in other areas of life. Studies indicate that children reared by parents that imbibe alcohol, smoke cigarettes and abuse their spouse are likely to follow their parents’ examples.

By ignoring Hansen’s findings the media is being derelict in its duty. Lawmakers, citizens, judges and policy makers all need to be aware that when they vote in favor of homosexual parenting they are skewing the odds that children will choose an unnatural and unhealthy lifestyle.
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Kelly Boggs is a weekly columnist for Baptist Press and editor of the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

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  • Kelly Boggs