Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows

[Q Classic]

I did not say it. All I said is that if you are homosexual you are far more likely to abuse drugs, which is a statement of fact. I did not speculate as to why.

Do you have any studies that show that increased 'homophobia' results in increased substance abuse, and enough to account for the massive difference (2-3x) as likely. It's not a small difference QCubed.

I'm at work, so I can't search for it, not really.

That said, you said that homosexuality was an unhealthy lifestyle. When asked to prove it, you point to these studies.

While you did not outright assign causation to homosexuality for this, you have implied it.

[Ben Kenobi]

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=23818

A new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine found that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men - nearly one in three - are victims of intimate partner abuse.

Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. This study’s results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).

"Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings," said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. "Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse."

Men in abusive relationships were more likely to report suffering from serious health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, depression, and anxiety, according to the study. These men also were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse and unprotected sex, leaving the gay/bisexual population at elevated risk of spreading and contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Few prior studies have examined the health problems specific to abused gay and bisexual men.

Entitled "Intimate Partner Abuse among Gay and Bisexual Men: Risk Correlates and Health Outcomes," the study is based upon a survey of a diverse urban population of 817 MSMs in the Chicago area. Data was collected from 15-minute anonymous, seven-page surveys administered at 11 different gay/bisexual venues in Chicago. The survey involved African-Americans (51.3 percent), Whites (22.4 percent), Latinos (16.3 percent), and Asian/Pacific Islanders and other ethnic groups (10 percent).

More than half of the men who were victims of intimate partner abuse in a current or a past relationship reported experiencing more than one form of abuse (verbal, sexual and physical). Of the men reporting abuse, 63.4 percent reported verbal abuse, 59.2 percent reported physical, and 57 percent reported sexual. Prevalence of abuse did not significantly vary by ethnic group, or among men who did or did not have a primary partner.

The study looked at three key health behaviors: alcohol and drug use, unprotected sex, and smoking. Test results found that abused men were more likely to report monthly or more frequent alcohol intoxication and problems caused by substance use. Abused men were also more likely to report frequent use of substances before or during sex as well as having unprotected sex, leading to a higher risk of spreading or contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

"It is imperative that future research focus on ways to assess abuse and examine strategies designed to improve outreach to bring these men out of danger and improve their overall health outcomes," Houston said.

[rah]

I'm with Q here. Maybe if people like you and usually their families didn't regard them as lesser beings, maybe they wouldn't drink as much.

From the same web site you mentioned

* 85% had experienced depression

* 45% periods of anxiety

* 70% had attempted suicide, of the remainder (6) three had contemplated it. This included a total of 41 attempts;

* 55% abused themselves in other ways, e.g. cutting up with razor blades, banging fist against the wall, putting fist through window, biting chunks out of self, throwing self against wall/down stairs

This isn't because of their sexual preference, this is from persecution from bigots like you that make them not accept themselves. Maybe you should do the Christian thing and help them out.

[Q Classic]

Oh, "People like you"?

Wow, ok.

You asked me and demanded studies and I provided them to you. Why are you angry at me for complying?

Just who are 'my people, QCubed?'

Clearly, you're misunderstanding my posts. I didn't say it with anger.

I asked you for studies. Studies which you use to imply that it's homosexuality at fault; I simply point out that the studies may show correlation, but not necessarily causation, and that the studies point out that cultural and societal pressures may be involved.

I then point out that those cultural and societal pressures are generally created, yes, from people like you. The ones who blame homosexuality as an unhealthy lifestyle. The ones who seek to enshrine bigotry into law and create a second-class citizenry. The ones who automatically discount homosexual relationships as meaning less because they're not predicated around a gender binary.

How else am I supposed to describe that group?

[Ben Kenobi]

http://www.infoforhealth.org/pr/l11/violence.pdf

This here notes that abuse of women is only around 20-22 percent in the US while abuse between Gays and Lesbians is around 33 percent. So there is a significant difference wrt to abuse rates.

[Ben Kenobi]

This isn't because of their sexual preference, this is from persecution from bigots like you that make them not accept themselves. Maybe you should do the Christian thing and help them out.

Unfortunately the studies say otherwise. Science. Science attributes it to partner abuse, where it notes that those gay and lesbians who are abused are far more likely to report alcohol and substance abuse problems, anxiety, and suicide attempts. The whole gamut.

Now, you can blame everyone else for these problems, but that is no different then a wifebeater blaming society's 'oppression' for causing him to beat his wife. It's about time some folks took responsibility for their own behaviour rather then blaming others.

[Ben Kenobi]

I then point out that those cultural and societal pressures are generally created, yes, from people like you.

How am I 'creating those pressures?

The ones who blame homosexuality as an unhealthy lifestyle.

You mean sociology and psychology are to blame?

The ones who seek to enshrine bigotry into law and create a second-class citizenry. The ones who automatically discount homosexual relationships as meaning less because they're not predicated around a gender binary.

Where did I say anything about less value? I said they are downright dangerous for the practicioners.

[Q Classic]

Unfortunately the studies say otherwise. Science. Science attributes it to partner abuse, where it notes that those gay and lesbians who are abused are far more likely to report alcohol and substance abuse problems, anxiety, and suicide attempts. The whole gamut.

Whoa. Hold up. That is not what that study says. The study says that there's a higher rate of partner abuse in homosexual couples, and that the abused have higher substance abuse rates.

Then you have different, unrelated studies which simply point out that as a population that homosexuals have higher substance abuse rates, possible from psychosocial pressures.

That does not mean, however, that you can combine the results from two separate and distinct studies with different methodologies, samples, and assumptions into one result.

Additionally, in your desire to come to your expected conclusion, you summarily rule out every other possible psychosocial factor: parents, family, society, people like you.

What you've done is a classic example of a false syllogism.

[Q Classic]

How am I 'creating those pressures?

You alone are not. You, however, typify the mindset that is shared by those that do.

You mean sociology and psychology are to blame?

Not at all. But your logic in coming to those conclusions is flawed.

Where did I say anything about less value? I said they are downright dangerous for the practicioners.

Do you not get the doublethink inherent in those two sentences?

No, I suppose a person like you wouldn't.

[Drake Tungsten]

This isn't because of their sexual preference, this is from persecution from bigots like you that make them not accept themselves.

Do you have any evidence to support this causal argument?

[Lorizael]

A new thread's been started. This one's gone.