Queers United urging boycott of Dr. Phil show

I know precious little about Dr. Phil, I'm glad to report, and I certainly didn't know any of this. Great piece, Rhonda.

Another T.V Ego gone nuts.

Rhonda,  I think it is very clear that Dr. Phil has been listening to NARTH.  It seems all the issues he is bringing up read like a text of a NARTH newsletter,  wouldn't  you agree?  

Oh,  I followed the links and yes,  he actually has referenced NARTH leaders as experts.  I figured as much. 

NARTH, Queers United...

So an important issue is being drug through the mud by special interest groups. Maybe it's me, but isn't that what special interest groups do? Narrow their efforts and energies on a special interest?

We need to get over these types of knee jerk reactions in this country, and start thinking more independently. We need stop looking to organizations to think for us, and then fight about what it's polar opposite organization said and then fight about who and what is credible.

I think it's great that we can see what both sides of the issue have to say about it, but to deferring to them is intellectual laziness. I can't speak for Dr. Phil's brain, but if he did do that, I would be surprised. We are all influenced by the things we hear, but the very nature of his show is to cover ground breaking territory. I would have to see the charge of Dr Phil being a NARTH mouthpiece proven before I would agree with it.

The total statement of political narcissism. What is prescribed in a  statement like that is a dictatorship of people who "think" like you. Totally anti-democratic.

I did primal therapy with Janov-trained therapists. One was an ex-gay man. I don't know the particulars of his life, but I do know that if you do primal therapy with Janov there is no rule that you will lose your gay sexual identity. Some apparently do, and some don't. Janov has gay therapists working with him as well.

An example of change of sexual identity would be Anthony Perkins of the Hitchcock film, "Psycho". He and his lover underwent primal therapy and gave up their erotic attachment to each other, and I think Perkins got married, but I am not sure.

What you do lose is promiscuous acting out, a sexual addiction that is an attempt to deal with pain that you cannot get to without something like bio-energetics or primal therapy.

The idea that bi-sexuality might be a form of acting out, this is now controversial? There are no parents who erode the sexual identity of their children as they grow up? You really believe it is scientific to say that it is just like being born right- or left-handed?

(I was born left-handed and forced to change, but retain many of my left-handed preferences, by the way. So, environment can override genetics, as our brains are that plastic.)

Again, like a right- or left-handed preference? That is not true. I have an interview in a Berkeley street newspaper with the leading physiological psychologist in the US, whose name I am not going to remember. (I am looking for the interview.)

He said, in this pages long interview, that there is no scientific way to do experiments on people to determine just how much and in what way sexual identity is a product of genetics, hormones in the womb and psychological input from our environment.

So anybody who says that they have it all figured out, either the religious nut who thinks it is a form of possession to the queer rights advocate who thinks that there never is any pathology in childhood that could alter sexual identity and its expression, is simply not speaking from science.

So, after that do we need to boycott Dr Phil? Who is really going to listen to this?

Dr. Phil, what a Wanker!

Rhonda:  I put a link to this piece in my article,  when I mention yours.  Tell me how it looks to you. :)

He really has descended into sensationalism, I would expect this from Maury, but not really from this show I thought

Yes,  sensationalism is the word for it. ;)

I don't think I have ever seen a full show of his, snippets here and there - but his show, and ones like his always come down one basic premise, that we are all the same and in so being are all in a position whereby all our problems can be solved by an ageing white dude who has a gazillion dollars in the bank.

And don't even get me started on Oprah...

It's an offensive and hurtful message to transgendered people by labeling them as "gender confused"! Whatever happens to compassionate acceptance of people in general?

We should boycott Dr Phil because his terminology is "confused"?

What about the idea that "conflated" sexual identity can be the result of abuse by parents? Does that automatically "offend"?

We have never had in the last several thousand years "acceptance of people in general"/

I think part of the problem is that folks seemed preoccupied with offending other people by asking valid questions and drawing what they feel are truthful conclusions based upon the facts as they know them. The term "gender confused" no doubt describes many people who are indeed confused about their gender. On the other hand it is not a matter of opinion that there are in fact some individuals who are not entirely male or female in varying degrees. Some are more obvious than others, I am speaking of hermaphrodites, however others have much more subtle physicals signs of the same general issue.

It is wrong to just shout people out of the room because someone who may very well be gender confused might feel offended. What if that person is gender confused? What if that person is living a tortured life because of said confusion and can receive professional help to come to terms with a purely psychological condition?

Why is that asking questions, intelligent questions that are relevant and in fact honest attempts to understand complicated issues are characterized as "intolerant"? A person can be tolerant and have questions. And just because a person has an opinion that you might disagree with, doesn't make that person automatically wrong. Are they wrong? Again, exploring the facts, asking questions does not a hate monger make.

Special thanks to everyone who read, commented on, contributed additional information/material, and/or for the recommendations. As always, your contributions are deeply appreciated!

Rob, you might want to read the material at the link I provided to Roy C, above. Thanks!

And you should know:)! Thanks for stopping back!

The lack of knolage in our childeren regarding sex & sexual orientation is proabably a result of parents/friends that were confused themself(s). I have known one person (when still a teen) that was truly "sexually confused"  But a little open descution & experiance & the problem was solved.

My self, well I have experiance with both male & female partners, I know where my attractions lay, for my own sex...  I knew this when I was quite young, but because of the ridged attitudes of others (& like many in my place) I had doubts about myself & my feelings untill, I got to a point in life that I knew, with no doubts, about who & what I am.

Now. I am Me, SpyderMonkey ! I am not sick nor born with some "evil tant" no mater what another may think, I have felt my God move, & never will I doubt again.

monogamy or reproduction is not relevent to love in some cases.