Comments on: Why I Loathe The Term ‘Same-Sex Attraction’ (SSA) http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/ Fighting antigay lies and the ex-gay myth Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:13:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maurice Lacunza http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-28061 Maurice Lacunza Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:00:58 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-28061 Priya Lynn: yup, SSA is still gay. Wayne: Right on. Priya Lynn: yup, SSA is still gay.
Wayne: Right on.

]]> By: William http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17811 William Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:49:19 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17811 Instead of OSA, I suggest the term DSA (= disparate sex attraction/attracted). Instead of OSA, I suggest the term DSA (= disparate sex attraction/attracted).

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17807 Michael Bussee Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:31:41 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17807 Wayne: I sometimes use the term SSA (even though I share many of the objections raised by previous commentors) to point out that "ex-gays" are not "OSA". That's all. Attracted emotionally, romantically and sexually to the same gender. Not heterosexual in attraction. Anything but straight. Like others above, I don't really like the term because it seems to reduce gay love and bonding to sexual "attraction" only -- or to "temptation" -- which is how "ex-gays" see it. I don't! I do not think of myself in this way. I'm gay. I also don't mind "homosexual" or "queer". To me, these are synonyms. Not heterosexual. I know other gay folk may not see these terms in this way, but I certainly do not mean to convey that I agree with the "ex-gay" mentality or movement by sometimes using their language. Just wanted to make THAT perfectly CLEAR. OK? Wayne: I sometimes use the term SSA (even though I share many of the objections raised by previous commentors) to point out that “ex-gays” are not “OSA”. That’s all. Attracted emotionally, romantically and sexually to the same gender.

Not heterosexual in attraction. Anything but straight. Like others above, I don’t really like the term because it seems to reduce gay love and bonding to sexual “attraction” only — or to “temptation” — which is how “ex-gays” see it. I don’t!

I do not think of myself in this way. I’m gay. I also don’t mind “homosexual” or “queer”. To me, these are synonyms. Not heterosexual. I know other gay folk may not see these terms in this way, but I certainly do not mean to convey that I agree with the “ex-gay” mentality or movement by sometimes using their language. Just wanted to make THAT perfectly CLEAR. OK?

]]> By: Eve http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17745 Eve Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:00:52 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17745 Language is a powerful thing. We should learn from how the anti-choice movement has been able to co-opt the struggle for women's right to have control over their bodies. By calling themselves "pro-life" they make it much more appealing to be on their side. But they are not "pro-life" - otherwise they would be against the death penalty, and for protecting the woman's life in certain abortion decisions. What they are, honestly, is anti choice and anti abortion. Nothing more. What we are is gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender...we are not "homosexual" or "same-sex attracted." And I agree - same-gender marriage is much more accurate a term. But I prefer just marriage. Since in MA, I am married, just like any other married couple. It's the federal government that has a problem, not me. Language is a powerful thing. We should learn from how the anti-choice movement has been able to co-opt the struggle for women’s right to have control over their bodies. By calling themselves “pro-life” they make it much more appealing to be on their side. But they are not “pro-life” – otherwise they would be against the death penalty, and for protecting the woman’s life in certain abortion decisions. What they are, honestly, is anti choice and anti abortion. Nothing more.

What we are is gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender…we are not “homosexual” or “same-sex attracted.”

And I agree – same-gender marriage is much more accurate a term. But I prefer just marriage. Since in MA, I am married, just like any other married couple. It’s the federal government that has a problem, not me.

]]> By: Christine http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17696 Christine Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:12:02 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17696 I meant ex-gay advocates are NOT advocating denying legal protections based on religion I meant ex-gay advocates are NOT advocating denying legal protections based on religion

]]> By: Christine http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17695 Christine Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:10:40 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17695 Ex-gay/"change" therapists who are not as extreme as Cohen (Mark Yarhouse, for example) also use this term. Here's a link to a recent presentation he gave: sitframework.com/wp.../09/AACC-2009-Yarhouse-and-Kays-MOC1.pdf Funny how so many ex-gay movement advocates continually use the term "gay-identified" or "involved in homosexuality" or "affected by homosexuality." Regardless of whether or not sexual attractions (homo, bi, or hetero) are shaped by biology (though the research clearly shows it is more influenced than is religion - yet ex-gay advocates are denying legal protections based on religion), wouldn't Christians be offended if non-Christians constantly referred to them as "Christian-identified" or "involved in Christianity" or "affected by Christianity"? Ex-gay/”change” therapists who are not as extreme as Cohen (Mark Yarhouse, for example) also use this term. Here’s a link to a recent presentation he gave:

sitframework.com/wp…/09/AACC-2009-Yarhouse-and-Kays-MOC1.pdf

Funny how so many ex-gay movement advocates continually use the term “gay-identified” or “involved in homosexuality” or “affected by homosexuality.”

Regardless of whether or not sexual attractions (homo, bi, or hetero) are shaped by biology (though the research clearly shows it is more influenced than is religion – yet ex-gay advocates are denying legal protections based on religion), wouldn’t Christians be offended if non-Christians constantly referred to them as “Christian-identified” or “involved in Christianity” or “affected by Christianity”?

]]> By: Buffy http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17688 Buffy Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:40:01 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17688 Agreed, and I never use it for those reasons. Agreed, and I never use it for those reasons.

]]> By: Evan Hurst http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17681 Evan Hurst Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:23:07 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17681 Ray, I have to disagree, though. I think that obviously there are extremes, but each person is different, and I think that one of the good things about the gay community is that there isn't the internalized shame about sex that is so common in straight people. The only difference I see is that yeah, there are go-go boys at some bars and clubs, but at least we're not pretending we don't like to look at hot guys (or girls, if that's your flavor). I mean, if it's not your thing, that's fine, but I personally think that gay people can teach the greater population a thing or two about getting over themselves and embracing themselves as mental, physical, spiritual AND sexual beings, and that that's okay. Ray, I have to disagree, though. I think that obviously there are extremes, but each person is different, and I think that one of the good things about the gay community is that there isn’t the internalized shame about sex that is so common in straight people. The only difference I see is that yeah, there are go-go boys at some bars and clubs, but at least we’re not pretending we don’t like to look at hot guys (or girls, if that’s your flavor). I mean, if it’s not your thing, that’s fine, but I personally think that gay people can teach the greater population a thing or two about getting over themselves and embracing themselves as mental, physical, spiritual AND sexual beings, and that that’s okay.

]]> By: Roland http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17680 Roland Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:41:16 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17680 I think that I disagree. The bigots like to constantly talk about being a homosexual is just a behavior that someone chooses to engage in. But when I talk about gay rights I like to make a point that being gay is not a behavior, but it is having same-sex attraction. Just like heterosexuals have opposite-sex attraction. I think that I disagree. The bigots like to constantly talk about being a homosexual is just a behavior that someone chooses to engage in. But when I talk about gay rights I like to make a point that being gay is not a behavior, but it is having same-sex attraction. Just like heterosexuals have opposite-sex attraction.

]]> By: richard schillen http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/02/6983/comment-page-1/#comment-17676 richard schillen Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:15:00 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6983#comment-17676 Harold Stidolph, in my book, you are a genius! Harold Stidolph, in my book, you are a genius!

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