Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Will Increase Prevalence of Homosexuality:
Research Provides Significant Evidence
by Trayce Hansen, Ph.D.
An accumulation of research from around the world finds that societies which endorse homosexual behavior increase the prevalence of homosexuality in those societies. The legalization of same-sex marriage—which is being considered by voters in several U.S. states—is the ultimate in societal endorsement and will result in more individuals living a homosexual lifestyle.
Extensive research from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the United States reveals that homosexuality is primarily environmentally induced. Specifically, social and/or family factors, as well as permissive environments which affirm homosexuality, play major environmental roles in the development of homosexual behavior...
A Danish research investigation studied two million adults living in Denmark, a country where same-sex marriage has been legal since 1989. This study uncovered a number of specific environmental factors that increase the probability an individual will seek a same-sex rather than an opposite-sex partner for marriage.
For Danish men, the environmental factors associated with higher rates of homosexual marriage include an urban birthplace and an absent or unknown father. Significantly, there was a linear relationship between degree of urbanization of birthplace and whether a man chose homosexual or heterosexual marriage as an adult. In other words, the more urban a man's birthplace, the more likely he was to marry a man, while the more rural a man's birthplace, the more likely he was to marry a woman.
For Danish women, the environmental factors related to increased likelihood of homosexual marriage include an urban birthplace, maternal death during adolescence, and mother-absence. Interestingly, this Danish research finds that urban birthplace and separation from the same-sex parent both were associated with same-sex marriage for men as well as women. (The latter finding supports psychological theories that have long asserted homosexuality is related to childhood problems—real or perceived—with the same-sex parent). In summary, this study finds that environmental factors that contribute to the development of homosexuality can be social and/or familial.
Finally, an American research study—the most comprehensive and representative survey of sexual behavior in America—reported its findings concerning homosexuality. The results of this study also support an environmental theory of homosexuality, not a genetic one. In particular, this survey identified specific types of environments that increase the likelihood of homosexual behavior. The authors describe these environments as "congenial" to the development of homosexuality.
Read the rest of the study here.
3 comments:
A couple of comments:
1. What seems reasonable to me is that men and women who are inclined toward homosexuality are more likely to identify and live as homosexuals if they are in an environment -- an urban area, a family with openly gay parents -- that is accepting of homosexuality. This seems to me to be a good thing, not a bad thing -- open homosexuality would seem to be healthier than closeted homosexuality.
I find the idea of people being "influenced" toward homosexuality to be inherently suspect, and I would ask my straight readers to consider this: if homosexuality were completely accepted in your society, would you be homosexual?
2. OK, let's assume for this discussion that "legalizing same-sex marriage will increase prevalence of homosexuality." What is the problem with that? Is there any nonreligious problem with homosexuality per se? It appears to me that all of the negative aspects of homosexuality can be attributed to either societal rejection (e.g., high suicide rates, dangerous sexual liaisons) or the absence of the stablizing institution of marriage.
In response to mgarelick:
To your first point, I don't think anyone would dispute that living among homosexuals would be a more comfortable environment for like-minded (or oriented) individuals. That's true for all sorts of different groups. "Open homosexuality being healthier than closeted homosexuality" makes me a little nervous only because I have heard of the disturbing, appalling, perverse things that go on at gay parades. Other than that, fine. I'm not saying they need to move to a remote island like lepers. I also don't think they need to flaunt it, which it seems many do. If there are any shy gays out there looking to feel more accepted, they could always move to San Francisco, West Hollywood, or the Florida Keys.
"I find the idea of people being 'influenced' toward homosexuality to be inherently suspect." I'm not the one who did the research, but it looks pretty exhaustive, especially if you click the link to read the full article.
"If homosexuality were completely accepted in your society, would you be homosexual?" Honestly, I doubt most would. You almost make it sound like it's preferable. Is there anything wrong with being straight? That is the orientation God intended, right? Or, if you prefer, nature intended. Nature is all about survival and propagation of the species. I don't think that when we were created in whatever way you choose to believe, the thought, thousands of years ago, was that homosexuality would be just as natural an orientation because we'd have invitro fertilization one day.
We were not created homosexual. Some other factor must have influenced us.
As to your second point, please see my response to your comments on the "Prop 8 Videos" blog post. Children are one darn good reason why same sex marriage is not a good thing. "The stabilizing institution of marriage" is an oxymoron when it comes to gay marriage. These couples have been living together, right? And now they are able to be officially married. Among straight couples who were first living together, the likelihood of divorce is 50%. The research out there so far would lead one to believe that that percentage will be higher among s.s. couples. Is there anyone NOT harmed by divorce?
My brother's children have a friend who is at their house almost constantly because the girl's "moms" were recently married and want her out of the house so they can have "alone time." Is practically being kicked out of your home "stabilizing" for this 1st grade girl?
The world would be a far far better place if its dominating inhabitants would learn to put others, especially those most helpless and vulnerable, first. Children are largely forgotten and bear the brunt of our selfishness. Children, and homosexuals themselves in the long run, would be better off without legalized same sex marriage.
Dr. T. Hansen wrote...
In response to mgarelick:
1. The foundational basis of your first comment is false. Homosexuality (nor any sexuality) is not fixed at birth. Decades of research across time and cultures have found that rates of homosexuality vary dramatically depending on degree of acceptance. And recent twin studies explain why that is so: because homosexuality is predominately environmentally determined not genetically determined.
And I can answer the question as to whether most heterosexuals would be homosexuals in a homosexually affirming culture. The answer is yes. If homosexuality were the universally esteemed form of sexuality then most of us would be homosexual in the same way that most of us would be cannibals if raised in a cannibalistic culture. (Don't get crazy. I'm NOT equating homosexuality with cannibalism but simply trying to make a point). All types of human behavior (including sexual behavior) are malleable and strongly influenced by cultural factors.
2. Homosexuality is associated with a multitude of physical and psychological problems. Those problems include higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse (alcohol and drugs), suicide, promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, certain types of cancers, and shortened life spans. And research reveals that these problems are not connected with "societal rejection" or "the absence of the stabilizing institution of marriage" because the rates of those problems are stable between countries that are extremely accepting of homosexuality (including allowing SSM) and those that aren't.
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