The same-sex marriage debate
May 15, 2008 marked another milestone in the history of California.
The state Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Ronald George, ruled by a 4-3 opinion that same-sex marriage is constitutional. Gov. Schwarzenegger has since stated that he would not contest the court’s decision.
Proposition 22 passed in 1978 with 61 percent approval rating, strengthening the notion that marriage is between one man and one woman. In 2001 the voters again said no to same-sex marriage. Opponents have now put the issue on the November ballot.
What makes a person gay or straight? Is it personal choice or genes or the way one was raised? While science does not have definite answers, there has been some fascinating and oftentimes controversial research that is beginning to provide some clues.
In the first edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, homosexual behavior was considered to be “abnormal.” This diagnosis was later deleted. We have a fourth edition now, and the fifth edition will probably come out by 2010.
The question is: Can a gay be converted into a non-gay through psychotherapy or counseling? We do not have concrete answers. The bottom line is mental health professionals respect the right of client self-determination. Thus it is unethical to intervene. Homosexual behavior is accepted as a personal sexual preference.
Our current president, members of both houses of Congress and the two presidential nominees are all against same-sex marriage. One should not worry too much at this time.
Samuel Ho
Porterville
