Stanton L. Jones - a psychology professor at evangelical Wheaton College - cites scientific studies concluding that we are. He notes that gay activists blame the social stigma associated with homosexuality for this correlation, but counters:
The correlation between social stigma and psychological problem is real, but the empirical case for the first causing the second has yet to be made. This has not stopped advocates, however, from battling alleged stigma by increasingly framing all “anti-gay sentiment” as a form of prejudice.
The professor's description of anti-gay stigma as an "alleged" phenomenon is a nice touch, particularly since Jones' own stated goal is to oppose "those relentlessly advancing the full acceptance and normalization of homosexuality." It's almost enough to make you start quoting Bible verses about how the Devil is the father of all lies and those who lie are his children.
But I will restrain myself and put it gently: If, as Jones claims, there are large swaths of society that still view homosexuality as abnormal and that continue to not accept - and hence reject - those of us who are gay, then the claim that gays are stigmatized would seem to be something more than a mere allegation, no? Something more like, well ... a fact?
Similarly, Jones may be right when he says scientists have yet to prove that social stigma causes psychological distress. (Indeed, one wonders what sort of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study could prove that link without causing actual harm to the subjects of the study.) But most thinking, feeling people do not need permission from scientists to conclude, for example, that schoolyard bullying of a child because of his perceived sexual orientation is likely to hurt the child's feelings, induce feelings of worthlessness, and perhaps even cause some combination of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation. And if that same child comes home from school and finds that his parents have rejected him for the same reason, most of us can perceive - without the benefit of a doctorate in psychology - that his psychological distress will likely be magnified.
But don't take my word for it. Just ask Eric James Borges, the gay 19 year-old who talks in the video above about how his name growing up was "faggot" and how his parents rejected him for being "disgusting" when he came out to them. One thing, though. You'll have to wait until you get to heaven because last week he committed suicide.
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