OPINION:Scientific research into gender attraction and general social evolution removes any excuse for depriving gay people of open and fulfilled lives, writes ALAN DIBBLE
HOMOSEXUALITY IS caused by eating chickens, according to the Bolivian president ( The Irish Times, April 22nd). Or is it the fault of domineering mothers and weak fathers according to the reparative therapists ( The Irish Times, April 21st)?
Then there is the "I'm told" connection between homosexuality and paedophilia according to Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Bertone ( The Irish Times, April 13th).
With so many opinions and confusions about an integral part of the human condition, it is no wonder any sexual orientation not subscribing to the majority experience can become a target for misunderstandings and even fears. Consequently, “gay” becomes used as a pejorative taunt by children.
So, in separating the wheat from the chaff, what are the known facts?
Human sexuality is an extremely complex phenomenon since it involves more than just biological urges. Multiple variables influence the expression of all human sexuality, not least our sociological, cultural and religious experiences and beliefs. However, our emotional attractions do have an underlying inner sense that points that biological drive consistently in one direction.
As so often happens with research questions, science grapples with the “nature versus nurture” bases for human behaviour. Psychoanalytic theories postulated parental relationships as a possible cause of male homosexuality, with emotionally distant fathers and overprotective mothers. However, the opposite appears more likely. Fathers can tend to distance themselves from sons who do not fully meet their criteria for maleness and mothers are likely to be protective of such sons.
Social learning theory and its correlates, classical and operant conditioning or behaviour modification, can have an effect on certain sexual behaviours and even fantasies, but not on sexual preference. In the 1950s, these theories were taken to the extreme with aversion/shock therapies but with poor results.
The seduction theory assumes early homosexual experiences will predispose a boy to develop a gay orientation. Studies reveal boys who have same-sex experiences knew of their inclinations before experiencing such activities. An example is one by Daewood (2000) in which he surveyed 37 gay sibling pairs: two-thirds did not engage in any mutual sexual behaviours and the average age for becoming aware of their same-sex feelings was 11, but the average age for discovering that the other brother was gay was 21. These findings are similar to a recent Irish survey (2009) that found the average age of awareness was 12 but public coming out was not until about 19.
Serious scientific research is currently focusing more on biological processes in the prenatal stages. While there has been a concerted effort to identify a “gay gene”, it appears genetics contributes less than half of the variance and the genes responsible for sexual orientation actually affect the brain’s chemistry and the brain’s response to that chemistry rather than directly mediate the orientation itself.
While the research is much more complicated than these brief descriptions, the conclusions of the bulk of this peer-reviewed research is that sexual orientation is decided well before conscious choices are possible and the resulting orientation, whatever the direction, is irreversible. Whatever one’s choice of lifestyle based upon beliefs, culture and psychological wellbeing, sexual preference or attraction is ingrained.
If the emerging knowledge has merit – and there is sufficient evidence to accept it does – I believe the academic debates are no longer relevant. What is relevant is focusing on how our gay citizens can develop to their fullest potential, which can only happen in the context of human interactions and relationships.
An integral and basic aspect of these interactions revolves around that universal, all-engulfing, romantically inspired, electrifying shiver that, despite neuropsychological studies, remains more in the poet’s corner – the emotion of love. Our society can no longer deny expression and fulfilment of such a core element as love to over 5 per cent of its population when all heterosexual couples can openly and without fear or shame avow commitment to each other.
So, how are we supporting our gay youth to become psychologically autonomous individuals free to express their most basic needs for acceptance and approval if they must overcome more hurdles than the average teen? And for those where the hurdles are too insurmountable, how can those gay adolescents experience and learn about relationships if they have to keep their emerging identity hidden in a deceptive game of pretending to be someone they are not?
The recent RTÉ documentary Growing up Gay in Ireland demonstrated the confusions and struggles gay youth must endure with family and peers just to find some place within themselves to develop an individuated, autonomous and confident sense of identity.
Watching it, I was reminded of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Those who have read the novel will remember that Huck was running away from an oppressive 19th-century American society along with Jim, a runaway Negro slave, as they discovered the world by rafting down the Mississippi river.
The central dramatic moment in the novel is when Huck is faced with a dilemma. Should he do the “right” thing as he would have been taught in Sunday school and turn his friend Jim into the authorities, or not betray their friendship but break the law and thus be forever damned to hell? Despite the laws and cultural beliefs of the time and the innocent belief he would be damned for all eternity, Huck’s decision (to use his own words) was “Alright then, I’ll go to Hell!” Huck was able to access a deep inner sense that there could be only one truly humane choice, regardless of the personal consequences, and that was the idea of friendship. Thus, the naive boy became the autonomous man.
In our society today, at least 5 per cent of our youth are faced with a very similar dilemma between an inner sense of self as gay and trying to fit in with the majority of their peers. Facing the prospect of loneliness, it is no surprise that suicide is more common among gay youth. Unlike Huck, they do not all have the courage or the confidence in themselves to swim against the current.
Ireland is changing rapidly in awareness and acceptance of sexual orientation differences. Cardinal Bertone’s recent inept comment was a non-runner for debate since most informed people today do not accept such nonsense. A 2009 circular from the Department of Education encourages schools to be more proactive in dealing with homophobia. However, a 2009 survey sample of parents across 120 Irish schools conducted by the University of Limerick noted the majority believe homophobia is still strong in many schools and that gay issues should be on the curriculum. So there is much more our society needs to do.
There are many who would still believe they are destined for hell because they are gay. As one of the girls in the RTÉ documentary stated, it already felt like she was in hell with regard to school bullying.
So, with the current state of our knowledge, it is time to reconsider our attitudes and personal biases and to reassess those beliefs which may be archaic, ineffective, non-relevant and inhumane.
It is time for parents to continue to educate themselves to the facts and convey via modelling and discussion with their own children to fully respect differences. We must free up all our youth, and all our citizens for that matter, to become and experience and express who they are to their fullest potential. Or maybe we should just quit eating chicken.
Dr Alan Dibble is a clinical psychologist specialising in children and adolescents