Same sex activity found in more than 40% of population

AMPULA does a take on The Onion:

American Journal of Psychology publishes proactive study: Same sex activity found in more than 40% of population

In a startling news release today, the American Journal of Psychology released results from a study finding that 42% of Americans have same sex desire and or activity. The study goes further to suggest that there are more individuals who have sex with the same gender than would identify as ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’, confirming what some experts call ‘the activity that prefers no name’. It has long been known that sexual behavior departs from an individual's chosen identity or spontaneous desires. This study confirms that although the majority of Americans choose to identify as heterosexual, almost half exhibit same-sex attractions and behaviors.

Key findings:

42 percent of women and 47% of men feel constrained by the heterosexual model -- constantly editing themselves, engaged in the task of trying to look, sound, and act ‘straight’.

Nearly two-thirds of men and women fear that acknowledgement of their same-sex desire or activity would lead to such labels as ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’.

45% of men and 40% of women occasionally act on their same sex desire but don’t talk about it, usually due to shame, a strong social disincentive and the lack of a socially acceptable language to speak about it.

40 percent of men and 38% of women would choose someone of the same gender as a partner, if given the choice.

The bottom line: 42 percent of men and women experience hidden desires and behaviors and feel constrained by society’s strong negative attitude towards gays and lesbians. This is a wake-up call for America. Those who have same sex desire or behavior comprise more than 40 percent of the population, marriage-bias is a luxury this country cannot afford.

According to UCLA Medical Center sexuality specialist Dr. Audra Hurst, “sexual orientation is an illusory social construct. People should stop worrying about it and simply allow others and themselves to have sex with or love whomever they please”.

"Everyone is familiar with the 10% figure, first reported by Kinsey, but we have found that we have not been counting those who have homosexual desire and behavior but call themselves ‘straight’”, Hurst said. "Few people think about calling themselves ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ just because they have sex on the side with someone of the same gender, as a result, we have been underreporting the size of the same-sex community all along."

It is widely believed that the release of these findings will have its largest impact on public policy, religious edicts, and politics - among other societal areas. A widespread ‘coming out of the closet’ may also occur with individuals originally ashamed and in denial about their desire and behavior becoming more open as they view it as ‘normalized’.

“The Roman Catholic Church now acknowledges sexuality is a complex series of feelings, desires and behaviors and no longer proclaims heterosexuality as ‘normal’ or legislated by God, it simply is an expression that can result in procreation” remarked Joaquin Navarro-Valls, spokesperson for the Vatican.

While this study will have a profound if not revolutionary impact on conventional thoughts on sexuality, it is not clear whether it will “disrupt the normal tradition of man and woman” as described by the conservative group Focus on the Family’s James Dobson. The group is reportedly in talks to change its name to ‘In the Family’ in a nod to gay groups use of the term to describe someone who is gay.

President Bush signed an executive order Friday day authorizing the marriages of and adoptions by "all lesbians and gays in America."

"As president, my first duty is to ensure the American people have equal rights and access, whether the issue is marriage, adoptions or jobs," said Bush, standing on the lawn of the National Mall next to a non-partisan group of national gay and lesbian leaders. "This proactive initiative will rid our nation of discrimination that has lasted too long, gone too far and resulted in untold depression and suicides."

Bush added: "I want the people of the United States to know that we are all equal and that unions between men and women, men and men and women and women are all equal in the eyes of God."

Executive Order 1342A, which calls for civil marriage for all and an end to sexuality based discrimination, specifies that those found guilty of not following the new law will be punished and will be required to take a 2 year sexuality education and sensitivity course and have at least 1 same sex experience.

The order, written by members of Bush's Council of Advisers on Sexuality, goes much further than the proposed 1999 Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and erases from memory the proposed Constitutional Amendment to ban what in 2004 was called ‘gay marriage’. It will be overseen by the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, which will work closely with state Justice Agencies and Religious institutions to ensure that the order is put into operation evenly and fairly.

"This order was developed with the help of my top sexuality advisers," Bush said. "We can all trust that their wisdom, manifested by this bold, equal-rights initiative, will make us a more fair and just society."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with the Canadian prime minister and Spanish president next week to discuss how implementing civil marriage and other sexuality related equal-rights efforts work in their countries. The Department of Justice’s deadline for nationwide implementation of this order is July 4, 2006.

Administration critics have suggested that the president's plan is too broad in scope, and opens the unions of married American couples to a dangerous threat.

"What about traditionally married people, if he allows this to happen, there will be chaos, our children won’t know who or what to marry! Soon, people will be marrying their pets!” said Republican Party strategist Elaine Quigley, appearing on MSNBC's Hardball. "If you redefine marriage for same-sex couples, you've redefined it for everyone," opening the door to the possibility that, she said, "You can say I want to have marriage for three people."

The Office of the White House Counsel, which oversees the usage of all executive-branch insignias, is expected to approve incorporating a pink triangle (the popular symbol for gay freedom struggle) into the presidential seal as early as next week.