A new study that confirms long-term change away from homosexuality is possible is being lauded by Focus on the Family. The full results were released last week in the book Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation by Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse. It is the world’s first longitudinal, peer-reviewed study of its kind.
At the end of the three-year study, 67 percent of participants either reported a change toward heterosexual orientation or were successfully continuing work toward that goal.
“While we’ve known all along that long-term change is possible for people with unwanted same-sex attractions, it’s interesting to note how high the percentage of reported change was,” said Melissa Fryrear, director of Focus on the Family’s gender issues department. “These results are comparable with the success rates for dealing with other difficult issues, like depression, and more favorable than those reported by U.S. Department of Labor tax-funded programs in overcoming substance abuse.”
Fryrear is also a speaker at Focus’ Love Won Out conferences, which educate attendees on the issues surrounding homosexuality and is led primarily by men and women who, like Fryrear, previously self-identified as homosexuals. “This study bolsters our position of advocating for people’s right to self-determination. If someone has unwanted same-sex attraction, it is their right to seek alternatives to change,” she said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stanton Jones talked with CitizenLink last week. Read the interview here.
