When Lady Gaga showed up to her sister’s graduation at NYC’s Catholic Convent of the Sacred Heart in a beekeeper’s hat, I couldn’t help but think that it may have been a statement about the “sting” of Church teachings.
While researching yesterday’s talky blog, I came across an article written by Dr. John R. Diggs, Jr about “The Health Risks of Gay Sex” on the Catholic Education Resource Center’s (CERC) website. I was intrigued by the article’s disclaimer, which read as follows:
CERC will not publish articles which, in the opinion of the editor, expose gays and lesbians to hatred or intolerance.
The article basically makes the case against homosexuality based on gay men’s promiscuity, compromised physical health (increased likelihood of STDs), mental health (increased depression and suicide), decreased lifespan and inability to maintain monogamy.
By the end of the article, I was fuming. Here’s why.
Sure, some gay men are promiscuous. And some aren’t. Being gay doesn’t necessitate being a slut – as adults, each of us is able to make the choices about the sex lives that work for us. Furthermore, if someone does make the choice to have multiple sex partners, is that really something you can hold against them (let alone against an entire population of people)?
When it comes to physical health, the good doctor cites an increased risk of STDs due to the promiscuous lifestyles of gay men and women (yes, he’s against the lesbians, too!). I’m surprised he didn’t express the other stereotype that gay men are more physically fit than our apparently sex-starved straight counterparts.
When Dr. Diggs dug into mental health, I was in disbelief. He writes:
It is well established that there are high rates of psychiatric illnesses, including depression, drug abuse, and suicide attempts, among gays and lesbians.
No s**t, Sherlock. But doesn’t he realize that gay people are more likely to be depressed or suicidal because people like him make it harder for us to be accepted in this world? When my ex-boyfriend’s parents rejected him for being gay, he tried to kill himself. It wasn’t because there is something dysfunctional about gay people – it’s because as a fragile and young human being, he didn’t know how else to react to his parent’s rejection. Dr. Diggs is doing nothing but fueling the flames of prejudice that ensure a more difficult and less-loving world for gay and lesbian people across this planet.
The doctor also cites shortened lifespans in his case against homosexuality. With the high number of suicides in the gay population coupled with high HIV rates, I don’t doubt that gay men die younger. But maybe the answer isn’t renouncing gay people for their sexual orientation. Maybe the answer is educating gay people on HIV, and providing support for rejected or depressed gay people. It seems more productive to help lift the lifespan of people that identify as gay, rather then hold it against us.
And don’t even get me started on monogamy. Straight men are just as polygamous as gay men, we just tend to be a bit more honest about it since polygamy is somewhat accepted in our community. I’m sure that just as many straight men have extramarital relations as gay men, they just aren’t as vocal about it. And not that there is anything wrong with polygamy, but maybe we’d be more inclined to monogamy if we were given the option to marry.
The doctor, holding that gays and lesbians should be treated with “respect, compassion and sensitivity,” concludes that:
Approving same-sex relationships is detrimental to employers, employees and society in general.
Dr. Diggs is using facts to tell a story that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. His numbers may be right, but the picture he paints is far from accurate. Furthermore, he uses this narrative to make the case against homosexuality as if gay people have some viable alternative? Since we can’t turn straight, I suppose the alternative is celibacy (we know how that worked out for Catholic priests) or a closeted life of deception.
Dr. Diggs is an idiot. This isn’t a judgment. It’s a fact. And I will use this fact to tell my own narrative. Instead of expressing respect, compassion or sensitivity, Dr. Diggs has only made it harder for the gay men and women that are already up against so much. In the name of Christ’s love, Dr. Diggs is spewing hate. It’s repulsive, hypocritical and yes, it stings.
June 26, 2010 at 6:41 pm
The muteness and head trauma came on January from a accident have not been back to work since. I am only deaf in the right ear and 30 percent in left. My epilepsy I was on probation for a year while I was being “monitored” for seizures. My seizure have been undercontrol for years. Before you make assumption of facts you clearly know nothing about-be just wise for you to keep quiet. Cause right now you clearly are looking silly
June 26, 2010 at 6:48 pm
The gimp my brother speaks of also came from the head trauma. My brother was only defending his older brother-as any good brother would do. I figure the time he was only stating my physical limits at this time….BTW I stlll am a firefighter and soon will be returning back to work, providing my therapies go well. Thank you very much jerk
July 2, 2010 at 9:15 am
Davide:
Here is the part of the CCC you didn’t post:
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.
Having the INCLINATION is objectively disordered – having the inclination is the CONDITION not the ACT.
The church DOES teach that having the inclination is DISORDERED.
Q. E. D.
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