A History of Homosexuality

Homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association's

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual until 1973 when sodomy advocates and lesbian
organizations lobbied for de-listing. Report on other turning points towards the
acceptance of homosexuality from ancient to modern times across cultures.

Judeo-Christian Tradition:
Modern Jews are seen as accepting of homosexuality, however, their history and their
laws, which are kept now only by the devout, show plainly that all historical Jewish
cultures forbid homosexuality. During the Renaissance in Europe was when accepted
homosexuality began to take root. More so in Italy, but nevertheless throughout the
“enlightened” continent people began to preach homosexuality as just another thing that
people sometimes do, like painting or traveling to England. This is also the period in
which numerous and stringent laws began to be placed on “buggery”, “sodomy”, and
other-worded things of that nature. From this point, the controversy over homosexuality
ever so slowly gathered momentum until it became what it is today.

Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord, “...a man should not lie with a man as one
lies with a woman."2 Although some might negate this by saying it is Old Testament law
(Leviticus 18:22, 20:13), it is reaffirmed in the New Testament. Romans 1:26-27 says,
"God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations
for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with
other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

Egypt
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani), in the Negative Confession, equates
homosexuality with sin in a sort of Old Testament list of wrongs and sins that the speaker
has not committed. A small portion of the list reads, “Hail, Qerrti, who comest forth from
Amentet, I have not committed adultery, I have not lain with men. Hail, Her-f-ha-f, who
comest forth from thy cavern, I have made none to weep.10” The Assyrian Laws of c.
1450-1250 B.C. contain the tidbit, “If a man has lain with his male friend and a charge is
brought and proved against him, the same thing shall be done to him and he shall be
made a eunuch.11”

Greece
Greece is the example many homosexuals turn to in their search for acceptance in ancient
societies, yet their sources are vague, citing things like obscure vase art and a new
interpretation of classic stories12.

Byzantium
Sources on the history of homosexuality are fraught with broken links and groundless
ascertains. One claims “Even the Bible itself, it turns out, contains 'pro-gay' texts"13 with
the only links that might support that being broken. Usable links either speculate on “lost
chapters” of the Bible or show that it really does condemn homosexuality. Attempts to
say that early Christians accepted homosexuality are asinine and inconsistent. Saying,
“Although certainly not sexually active, it is also common to find Byzantine saints paired
with each other in relationships which can be analyzed from the perspective of desire -
"friendship" hardly begins to describe what they are about."13 - assumes that any kind of
love between men – even the strong brotherly love that combat soldiers experience and
that has nothing to do with homoeros – is subversively homosexual and must be looked at
as such.

Vikings
In ancient Nordic cultures, homosexuality was nearly disregarded, since to survive in
those harsh conditions the societies must procreate. “It was expected that no matter what
one's affectional preferences were that each individual would marry and reproduce. There
are no recorded instances of homosexual or lesbian couples in the Viking Age."14
Attempts to convince us of widespread and accepted homosexuality in the Dark Ages
rely on inventive interpretations of old documents.

Islam
In early Arabia, the Moslem cultures placed an enormously high value on friendship,
which is also being misconstrued. The Quran expressly forbids homosexuality15, and
while not every Arab is a devout Muslim, Islam as a whole does not condone it.

How has homosexuality changed over time from rejection to acceptance in US history?

The first change came about through revisionist historians who deny the importance of
Christianty in the foundation of the US government as most of the founding fathers were
active Christians. Opponents of absolute morality claim, “The Bible has absolutely no
standing in American law, as was made clear by the intent of the First Amendment (and
as was very explicitly stated by the founding fathers in their first treaty, the Treaty of
Tripoli, in 1791) and because it doesn't, no one has the right to impose rules anyone else
simply because of something they percieve to be a moral injunction mandated by the
Bible."1

With the foundation for moral absolutes out of the way, then all sorts of behavioral
justifications were proposed.

1. Being gay is like being born into a ethnic race.

Advocates say, “Being gay is much more profound than simply a sexual relationship;
being gay is part of that person's core identity, and goes right the very center of his being.
It's like being black in a society of whites, or a blonde European in a nation of black-
haired Asians. Yes, being gay is just that profound to the person who is....While many
Americans do not realize that that homophobia exists to the extent that it does, it is a very
real part of every gay person's life, just like racism is a very real part of every black
person's life."1 This is saying that a homosexual cannot help being gay any more than a
black man can change the color of his skin. Gayness is as natural as skin pigmentation.
Homosexuality is as natural. To say otherwise is to go against nature.

Assuming that homosexuality is part of one’s DNA, like eyes, skin, height, etc., fails to
take into account the millions of “reformed homosexuals”, men and women who used to
be gay but have returned to heterosexuality. There is no evidence to back up this claim. In
fact, all research so far points to the fact that homosexuality is a reaction, much like Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. Which is exactly what it is, a disorder which can be treated
with therapy to restore heterosexuality. “The well-known Simon LeVay brain study of
1991, which tried to find differences in the hypothalamuses (a very small part of the
brain) of homosexual and heterosexual men, found no evidence that there is any genetic
cause for homosexuality. Nothing in the study showed that gay men are born that way."3
However, modern gays dislike this reality because it undermines all of their arguments’
foundations.

2. Being gay should be protected as any other minority.

“Let's get over our aversion to what we oppose for silly, irrational reasons, based on
ignorance, prejudice and faulty assumptions, and make ours a more just and honorable
society, finally honoring that last phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance: "With liberty and
justice for all."1 The author attempts to make his case as a civil rights issue rather than
moral issue.

Homosexuality is not the same as skin color, and not being in favor of gays is not the
same as hating someone just because of their race. Also, being black isn’t dangerous to
your health (unless you’re subject to extreme and violent racism). “Active homosexuals
are vulnerable to dozens of sexually transmitted diseases."5 According to one report, the
risk of anal cancer rises by an astounding 4,000 percent for those engaging in
homosexual intercourse and doubles again for those who are HIV positive."6“AIDS
remains the fifth leading cause of death among those aged 26 to 44, and 60 percent of
new cases are contracted by men who have sex with men.7” “An estimated 30 percent of
all 20-year-old homosexual men will be HIV positive or dead by the age of 30."
“According to the Centers for Disease Control, homosexual men are a thousand times
more likely to contract AIDS than the general male heterosexual population."9 None of
that can be compared to race, or anything else for that matter.

Civil rights deals with discrimination and, in actuality, popular opinion. The Jim Crow
laws were civil rights laws back when whites thought they were right. The whole history
of homosexuality is just one long list of overwhelming common sense. Gays are
stigmatized in society because society knows that sort of perversion is not productive for
the society. Good people, maybe, but not good in their beliefs and in the ways they act
out their beliefs

3. Being gay is about Loving relationships

“...Additionally, many people continue to believe the propaganda from right-wing

religious organizations that homosexuality is about nothing but sex, considering it to be
merely a sexual perversion. The reality is that homosexuality is multidimensional, and is
much more about love and affection than it is about sex."1

To say that homosexuality is more about love than sex does not seem to match the data.
“24 percent of gay men had over 100 partners, 43 percent of gay men had over 500
partners, and 28 percent of gay men had over 1000 partners."4 How can anyone argue
that these are faithful, loving relationships?
Ignoring the fact that the majority of homosexual tendencies comes from past physical,
sexual or verbal abuse from one or both parents or other trusted adults, or even peers,
proponents of the gay movement want those abused children to accept their perverse and
treatable reactions like they would accept their height or skin color. “During early
adolescence, many children experience a period of sexual-identity confusion when they
can easily be influenced in either direction,”3 says Focus on the Family, and the sad thing
is that gays are gaining more influence in their direction.

4. Being gay is not a sin.

People have been conditioned to think that inclusionary personal beliefs are acceptable
but exclusionary beliefs should be rejected as a demeaning attack on others. Hate laws
are drawn up to curtail those who might speak out against homosexuality as a sin. Does
honoring diversity mean agreeing and supporting every diverse sinner?

The old Christian adage was to “hate the sin, love the sinner”. The new Christian adage is
drifting to “ignore or accept the sin so as to not offend the sinner”. This is not a
demonstration of love. Love is what put Jesus on the cross (“For God so loved the
world…” John 3:16). God’s love is what draws sinners to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
Hatemongering is obviously not the proper response toward those who prefer a
homosexual lifestyle. The core issue is the identification of sin. It is no wonder that the
most loving Christians, who hate sin in their own lives before hating sin in the lives of
fellow sinners, are called hate-mongers by those who do not acknowledge that engaging
in homosexuality is a choice to sin. Sinners who are blind to their own sin have
understandable difficulty accepting the reality that another could love them even while
hating their sinful choices. Love for another is to encourage them to follow Biblical
principles for the love of God. In today’s irrational world, such encouraging love is called
hate. The loving call to repent from homosexuality is said to come from homophobics.

Although people may be attracted to members of the same sex, homosexuality is the
willful perversion of a sexual situation. The ancient Syrians knew homosexuality was
wrong and built up laws and customs to shield themselves and their children from
perversion. In the modern world, impressionable teens are being conditioned to believe
that if they have any same-sex feelings whatsoever, then they are gay and should embrace
their homosexuality.

In previous cultures, some form of a deity dictated common lives. Today, individual
preference dictates lifestyle choices. As a result, there is no basis for declaring something
‘morally wrong’. Likewise there is no basis for declaring tolerance as morally right.
Trying to use truth and morality to support homosexuality will ultimately fail. Basically,
the argument about homosexuality isn’t an argument about homosexuality at all – it’s an
argument about the authority of God.
 CAUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY
Trying to determine a cause of homosexuality can be confusing. There are countless
speculating Internet pages, medical studies, and religious exposés on the subject. They
proclaim the causes to be genetics, hormonal imbalance, reincarnation, sexual abuse,
prenatal hormone defect, or lack of bonding with a same-sex parent. The one
commonality among them is they are all unproven theories.

The American Psychiatric Association reports "There are no replicated scientific studies
supporting any specific biological etiology [cause or origin] for homosexuality." The
APA further states "No specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality
has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse."

All indications are that homosexuality is a choice. Making a choice is a decision in the
mind that too often originates in the heart from feelings. However, laws and moral
standards are not set in place based on feelings or emotions. The solid foundation for our
laws and standards are based on God's principles.

The standards of God are given for our well-being and best interest. He is the omniscient
and omnipotent supreme Deity. We must recognize that it's not about what we say (or
feel) but what God says. Hebrews 13:8 says God is the same yesterday, today, and
forever. He has not changed His mind.

The example of sexual sin in Sodom and Gomorrah is given as a warning for all
generations (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:4-5, 24-25). God does not like sexual perversion and
says, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable" (Leviticus
18:22). And it is an abomination to turn away from God's law (Proverbs 28:9).

There are many reports from former homosexuals saying that they have "come out" of
that lifestyle. One platform used is Love Won Out one-day conferences that are held in
cities across the United States. The speakers include educators, counselors, and ex-
homosexuals who boldly publicize that people can change.

EFFECTS OF HOMOSEXUALITY
Homosexual activists attempt to portray their lifestyle as normal and healthy, and insist
that homosexual relationships are the equivalent in every way to their heterosexual
counterparts. Hollywood and the media relentlessly propagate the image of the fit,
healthy, and well-adjusted homosexual. The reality is quite opposite to this caricature
which was recently conceded by the homosexual newspaper New York Blade News:

Reports at a national conference about sexually transmitted diseases indicate that gay
men are in the highest risk group for several of the most serious diseases. . . . Scientists
believe that the increased number of sexually tranmitted diseases (STD) cases is the
result of an increase in risky sexual practices by a growing number of gay men who
believe HIV is no longer a life-threatening illness.[1]

Instability and promiscuity typically characterize homosexual relationships. These two

factors increase the incidence of serious and incurable stds. In addition, some homosexual
behaviors put practitioners at higher risk for a variety of ailments, as catalogued by the
following research data:

STATISTICS OF HOMOSEXUALITY
• One study reports 70% of homosexuals admitting to having sex only one time
with over 50% of their partners (3)
* One study reports that the average homosexual has between 20 and 106 partners
per year (6). The average heterosexual has 8 partners in a lifetime
* Many homosexual sexual encounters occur while drunk, high on drugs, or in an
orgy setting (7)
* Many homosexuals don't pay heed to warnings of their lifestyles: "Knowledge
of health guidelines was quite high, but this knowledge had no relation to sexual
behavior" (16)
* Homosexuals got homosexuality removed from the list of mental illnesses in the
early 70s by storming the annual American Psychiatric Association (APA)
conference on successive years. "Guerrilla theater tactics and more straight-
forward shouting matches characterized their presence" (2). Since homosexuality
has been removed from the APA list of mental illnesses, so has pedophilia (except
when the adult feels "subjective distress") (27)
* Homosexuals account for 3-4% of all gonorrhea cases, 60% of all syphilis
cases, and 17% of all hospital admissions (other than for STDs) in the United
States (5). They make up only 1-2% of the population
* Homosexuals live unhealthy lifestyles, and have historically accounted for the
bulk of syphilis, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, the "gay bowel syndrome" (which attacks
the intestinal tract), tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus (27)
* 73% of psychiatrists say homosexuals are less happy than the average person,
and of those psychiatrists, 70% say that the unhappiness is NOT due to social
stigmatization (13)
* 25-33% of homosexuals and lesbians are alcoholics (11)
* Of homosexuals questioned in one study reports that 43% admit to 500 or more
partners in a lifetime, 28% admit to 1000 or more in a lifetime, and of these
people, 79% say that half of those partners are total strangers, and 70% of those
sexual contacts are one night stands (or, as one homosexual admits in the film
"The Castro", one minute stands) (3). Also, it is a favorite past-time of many
homosexuals to go to "cruisy areas" and have anonymous sex
* 78% of homosexuals are affected by STDs (20)
* Judge John Martaugh, chief magistrate of the New York City Criminal Court
has said, "Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities" (10)
* Captain William Riddle of the Los Angeles Police says, "30,000 sexually
abused children in Los Angeles were victims of homosexuals" (10)
* 50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals (10)
* Dr. Daniel Capron, a practicing psychiatrist, says, "Homosexuality by definition
is not healthy and wholesome. The homosexual person, at best, will be unhappier
and more unfulfilled than the sexually normal person" (10). For other
psychiatrists who believe that homosexuality is wrong, please see National
Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
* It takes approximately $300,000 to take care of each AIDS victim, so thanks to
the promiscuous lifestyle of homosexuals, medical insurance rates have been
skyrocketing for all of us(10)
* Homosexuals were responsible for spreading AIDS in the United States, and
then raised up violent groups like Act Up and Ground Zero to complain about it.
Even today, homosexuals account for well over 50% of the AIDS cases in the
United States, which is quite a large number considering that they account for
only 1-2% of the population
* Homosexuals account for a disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80%
in San Francisco, 29% in Denver, 66% in New York City, 56% in Toronto, 42%
in Montreal, and 26% in Melbourne (8)
* 37% of homosexuals engage in sadomasochism, which accounts for many
accidental deaths. In San Francisco, classes were held to teach homosexuals how
to not kill their partners during sadomasochism (8)
* 41% of homosexuals say they have had sex with strangers in public restrooms,
60% say they have had sex with strangers in bathhouses, and 64% of these
encounters have involved the use of illegal drugs (8)
* Depending on the city, 39-59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal
parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae, which is common in filthy third world
countries (8)
* The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 (only 9% live past age 65). This
drops to 39 if the cause of death is AIDS. The median age of death of a married
heterosexual man is 75 (8)
* The median age of death of lesbians is 45 (only 24% live past age 65). The
median age of death of a married heterosexual woman is 79 (8)
* Homosexuals are 100 times more likely to be murdered (usually by another
homosexual) than the average person, 25 times more likely to commit suicide, and
19 times more likely to die in a traffic accident (8)
* 21% of lesbians die of murder, suicide or traffic accident, which is at a rate of
534 times higher than the number of white heterosexual females aged 25-44 who
die of these things(8)
* 50% of the calls to a hotline to report "queer bashing" involved domestic
violence (i.e., homosexuals beating up other homosexuals) (18)
* About 50% of the women on death row are lesbians (12).
 TRENDS OF HOMOSEXUALITY
A court ruling has found that Christians who want to provide foster care for needy
children must promote homosexuality to them and that there is only a "qualified" right to
exercise their Christian beliefs.

The judgment comes in a claim by a Christian couple that their biblical beliefs in
opposition to homosexual behavior were being used by the government to discriminate
against them regarding their application to be foster parents.

The couple, Eunice and Owen Johns, previously had provided foster care in the United
Kingdom and had applied to resume their work, but suddenly became the target of
government rejection because they expressed their Christian beliefs regarding
homosexuality.

According to the Christian Legal Centre, which also posted online the judges' decision in
the landmark High Court case, the judges refused to say the Johns should be allowed to
provide foster care.

"There now appears to be nothing to stop the increasing bar on Christians who wish to
adopt or foster children but who are not willing to compromise their beliefs by promoting
the practice of homosexuality to small children," the organization said.

The judges, however, said it was the couples' view on homosexuality, not their biblically
based beliefs about homosexuality, that created the problem. And the judges went further,
declaring that Christianity has no role in the concept of justice in the UK.

According to the opinion authored by Lord Justice Munby and Mr. Justice Beatson, "the
laws and usages of the realm do not include Christianity, in whatever form." They said,
"the aphorism that 'Christianity is part of the common law of England' is mere rhetoric; at
least since the decision of the House of Lords in Bowman v Secular Society Limited … it
has been impossible to contend that it is law."

"It is important to realize that reliance upon religious belief, however conscientious the
belief and however ancient and respectable the religion, can never of itself immunize the
believer from the reach of the secular law. And invocation of religious belief does not
necessarily provide a defense to what is otherwise a valid claim," they wrote.

The judges noted Article 9 of the European Convention, which explains all have the right
to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the related "practice and observance,"
but they said the "manifestation" of Christianity is subject to "qualifications."

Munby and Beatson endorsed the belief that it "cannot therefore be justified" that a
position "held purely on religious grounds" could be defended by the law.

On the specific issue of requiring foster parents to promote homosexuality, the judges
said. "If children, whether they are known to be homosexuals or not, are placed with
carers who … evince an antipathy, objection to or disapproval of, homosexuality and
same-sex relationships, there may well be a conflict with the local authority's duty to
'safeguard and promote' the 'welfare' of looked-after children."

The ruling continued, "While as between the protected rights concerning religion and
sexual orientation there is no hierarchy of rights, there may, as this case shows, be a
tension between equality provisions concerning religious discrimination and those
concerning sexual orientation.

"Where this is so … the National Minimum Standards for Fostering and the Statutory
Guidance indicate that it must be taken into account and in this limited sense the equality
provisions concerning sexual orientation should take precedence."

Munby and Beatson said in their ruling that there is only a "qualified" right "to manifest
religious belief" and that "interferences in the sphere of employment and analogous
spheres are readily found to be justified, even where the members of a particular religious
group will find it difficult in practice to comply."

According to the Christian Legal Centre, the "judgment strongly affirms homosexual
rights over freedom of conscience and leaves the Johns currently unable to foster a child
as desired, despite their proven track record as foster parents."

The organization continued, "The summary contained in the judgment sends out the clear
message that orthodox Christian ethical beliefs are potentially harmful to children and
that Christian parents with mainstream Christian views are not suitable to be considered
as potential foster parents."

The organization called the judges' claim that the Johns "were being excluded from
fostering due to their moral views on sexual ethics and not their Christian beliefs" a
matter of "disingenuous" statements.

"The Johns' moral views cannot be separated from their religious beliefs."

The Johns told the Christian Legal Centre "we have been excluded because we have
moral opinions based on our faith, and a vulnerable child has now probably missed the
chance of finding a safe and caring home. … Being a Christian is not a crime and should
not stop us from raising children."

Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre,
said the family was "humiliated and sidelined and told by a government body … that
their mainstream Christian views might 'infect' children. They have also effectively been
told by British judges that their views may harm children."

Williams continued, "The judges have claimed that there was no discrimination against
the Johns as Christians because they were being excluded from fostering due to their
sexual ethics and not their Christian beliefs. This claim that their moral beliefs on sex
have nothing to do with the Christian faith is a clear falsehood made in order to justify
their ruling. How can the judges get away with this?"

J.E. Dyer, on the Hot Air Green Room blog, said the judges' interpretation of the law "is
idiotic on its face. … The next obvious step is ruling that parents must endorse
homosexuality to their own children."

"If the British High Court deems Christian beliefs on homosexuality 'inimical to the
interests of children,' it will justify intervening between parents and their natural children,
just as governments do the world over when child welfare is at issue."

WND recently reported that the last Catholic adoption agency in the UK was fighting for
its life after being told it must give up its faith or close down.

That report at the Christian Institute, which exists for "the furtherance and promotion of
the Christian religion," reported Catholic Care is the only one of 11 British Catholic
adoption agencies operating in 2007 that has not been shut down.

Others have fallen to the bludgeoning of government regulations that demand that
adoption agencies promote children to homosexual couples as well as married couples –
whether or not their faith allows it.

The Christian Institute said the nation's Charity Commission interprets the Labour Party's
regulations to mean that Catholic "adoption agencies must place children for adoption
with same-sex couples, despite it being contrary to church teaching."

Catholic Care already has been told by the commission that church teachings on
homosexuality "didn't justify their refusal to place children with homosexuals," reported
the Institute, which according to director Colin Hart is a nondenominational Christian
charity committed to upholding the truths of the Bible that is supported by individuals
and churches throughout the U.K.

An appeal, however, has been filed on the decision.

"The commission is wrong in its decision," the Institute reported London solicitor
Benjamin James saying. "We have lodged an appeal with the charity tribunal and the
charity tribunal will request that the Charity Commission responds within 28 days."

The case developed as concern grows that Christians rapidly are losing their rights in the
U.K. to the bludgeoning of "rules" adopted to favor homosexuals and other alternative
lifestyles.

The Institute cited the reports earlier in 2010 of two bed-and-breakfast owners who were
accused of refusing to provide double-bed accommodations to homosexuals.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 http://www.wnd.com/
 http://www.catholicintl.com/news/news.htm
 www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t0w32homosexuality.htm
 http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/homosexuality/maf/a0028248.cfm
 www.hyperhistory.net
 www.allaboutworldview.org/causes-of-homosexuality-faq.htm
 www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1502263/posts
 www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS01B1
 © 2011 Family Research Council
 CHAPTER V

Conclusion

While homosexuality is clearly classified as a sin in Scripture, and the group

believe a very preserve sin at that, one must realize that God hates all sin including all
sexual sin. God will hold the homosexuality no more guilty of sexual sin that He will the
fornicator, adultery, according to 1 Cor. 6:9-10. The group suggest that to stop
homosexuality, people must accept their own gender to respect themselves.