I think that whole "they can change" argument really isn't plausible because of the fact that many of the groups who believe and support the idea that homosexuality is more or less a mental delusion that can be reversible really have no scientific claim except flimsy claims like "they haven't found the gay gene yet". These groups could actually conduct scientific research and study I don't know genetics and dare I say it, evolution and show through their research that homosexuality has no real biological basis and is purely a psychological defect. But until then shocking a man's penis with electrodes until he stops having erections towards men will not be a logical argument to discredit the irreversibility of homosexuality.
It was said in a recent post that due to the fact that African Americans can't change their race this gives them permanent minority status. But when you actually look back on the history of the African American's struggle to gain equal rights you will see many similarities to the debate over the origins of homosexuality. For many years (and still even today) people believed that the blacks were inferior which contributed to the whole "nature vs. nurture" dispute we think of today when debating the origins of homosexuality. But as the 20th century progressed advancements in genetics helped to show that the blacks were not inferior. So if we try to learn from our history (which we rarely ever do) we can clearly see that trying to make a claim about the traits a group of people based on illogical evidence is not really anwsering the question. Like I've said in previous posts science is the only way we can prove or disprove homosexuality, the origins will not be found through the bible, circumstantial evidence, or these pseudo-conversion therapies.
Another source that accepts that homosexuality is permanent (but immoral), is the Catholic Church. I recently found out when I was reading the Vatican's website that they realize homosexuality is permanent and so homosexuals must remain celibate and bisexuals must supress their urges for men and only be with women.
So saying homosexuals can change is a very limited view because I think when you deal with such a complex topic as this you need to really put yourself in their shoes. If one justs imagines the social stigma, the ostracism, the "so-called religious damnation", and the rest of the baggage that comes from being gay people can be scared into doing many things. You can claim that gays can change but when you are being told that your life will be bleak and tragic if you be yourself and you can look foward to an afterlife of torture and unhapiness you'd be suprised how fear can manifest itself.
(Hopefully someone will respond to this post...
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