CHICAGO - Truth Wins Out launched a new website today, LGBTScience.org, to counter the anti-gay junk science industry's frequent distortions about the origins of homosexuality. This ongoing project explores the latest research findings and videotapes interviews key scientists.
"The researchers that we have interviewed have produced landmark peer-reviewed research, and can articulate the challenging concepts presented in a way that's easy to understand from a layman's point of view," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "Our goal is to bring greater scientific understanding to this topic and ensure that critical research is not twisted or distorted for political gain."
LGBT Science was launched one day prior to the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality's ( NARTH ) annual conference in Phoenix, since this organization is a key purveyor of scientific disinformation.
"NARTH is a manipulative peddler of junk science that professes to help, but only creates havoc in the lives of LGBT people and their families," said Truth Wins Out's Wayne Besen. "This is a fringe organization that pretends to be scientific, when their real goal is the stigmatization of LGBT people. It is our intent to put NARTH and other 'ex-gay' groups out of business and save lives by doing so."
LGBT Science is part of Truth Wins Out's three-pronged educational strategy. Part one was the launch of the NALT Christians Project ( NotAllLikeThat.org . ), which rebuts the damaging lie told by anti-gay extremists that one cannot be LGBT and a person of faith. The LGBT Science project is the second prong. Part three, scheduled to be launched in 2014, will be a comprehensive website thoroughly debunking the "ex-gay" industry, which purports to "cure" LGBT people through therapy and prayer. Truth Wins Out hopes these ongoing efforts will play a role in assisting state organizations to pass legislation banning "conversion therapy" for minors. California and New Jersey have already passed such measures. Other states considering a ban are New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
"We urge lawmakers in all fifty states to introduce legislation to prohibit child abuse disguised as genuine therapy," said Truth Wins Out's Besen. "Conversion therapy is a form of consumer fraud that is ineffective and dangerous, particularly when it is foisted upon desperate and vulnerable LGBT youth. When a young person comes out of the closet, they need love, not lies."
Truth Wins Out's LGBT Science project will examine questions, such as:
Is there a biological basis for sexual orientation and gender identity?
What do the experts say about efforts to change one's sexual orientation?
What are the ethical concerns surrounding this issue?
LGBT Science not only covers the origins of homosexuality, but also has sections addressing bisexuality and transgender issues.
"It is our goal to be as inclusive as possible," said TWO's Besen. "As we move forward with this website, we will continue with our commitment to represent the entire LGBT community."
Truth Wins Out ( TWO ) is a non-profit organization that works to demolish the very foundation of anti-gay prejudice.
