from "Born that way" theory and Clinical/Therapeutic Issues

The Globe article by Neil Swidey, described a pair of seven-year-old twins. One of the twins displayed childhood gender nonconformity from the age of two. A year ago, the boy told his classmates at school that he was a girl. His mother permitted gender nonconforming behavior at home, but is now hopeful that her son will turn out to be straight.

The article surveys work done by Simon LeVay on gay and heterosexual brains; Dean Hamer's attempt to discover a "gay" gene; pheromones; homosexual rams; and various twin studies.

Swidey then shifted emphasis and discussed various theories on prenatal brain development and the masculinization or feminization of the brain in utero. Some scientists believe that hormones determine sexual orientation.

Swidey notes that Dr. Alan Sanders, a psychiatrist with the Evanston Healthcare Research Institute is leading a National Institutes of Health-funded study on the genetic basis of homosexuality (www.gaybros.com). Sanders hopes to recruit 1,000 gay brothers to participate in the study.

A similar effort is being made by Eric Vilain at the University of California. Vilain and his associate Sven Bocklandt, are studying alleged "gay" sheep, transgenic mice, and identical twin humans to study how genes influence sexual orientation.

The Washington Post article by Sandra Boodman, begins by telling the story of a gay male who failed to change his sexual orientation through reorientation therapy and now considers himself an ex-ex-gay. Boodman writes of reorientation therapy: "Reparative therapists reject the views held by an overwhelming majority of mental health practitioners." Boodman quotes gay activist Wayne Besen who suggests that reparative therapy is "a kinder, gentler form of homophobia."

Boodman notes that reparative therapists have their own association, NARTH and then observes: "Mental health experts are alarmed by the resurgence of a treatment they say has been discredited."

Boodman quotes NARTH President Joseph Nicolosi as saying that "Your true self is heterosexual. Look at your body: It was designed to fit a woman." Dr. Nicolosi adds that reorientation therapy is effective when client and therapist share the same worldview. Such therapy can be demaging only "if the agenda of the therapist supersedes that of the patient."