Researcher says work on gays misused
A University of Utah psychologist says advocates of treating homosexuality selectively pick out bits of her research that appear to support their position.
Lisa Diamond has done studies that suggest that women's sexual preferences show some fluidity.
But she says her findings also show that an interest in the same sex is not something that can be changed, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality is the main offender, she said in an interview.
The issue is a sensitive one in Utah because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints takes the position that homosexuality is learned behavior that can be reversed. In fact, the president of the association, A. Dean Byrd, is an adjunct professor at the university.
The church also played a leading role in pushing an amendment banning gay marriage in California, which passed narrowly last week.
Byrd denies that he has cherry-picked Diamond's work when he has cited her in articles.
NARTH's view is that people can adapt any way they want and there is freedom of choice,
Byrd said. If it says 'fluidity' it says 'fluidity.' How you interpret it is something else.
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