Can Gay Porn Turn a Straight Man Pro Gay?
Can watching porn turn
straight men pro gay?
by Shaun Knittel
Best Gay News Magazine Staff Writer
Mark Regnerus, a sociology professor at the University of
Texas, made headlines for publishing a controversial study (which many found
flawed) that claimed children of gay parents were worse off than children of
straight parents, is back in the spotlight for a new bizarre claim: He says
that straight men who watch porn are more likely back same-sex marriage.
Texas, made headlines for publishing a controversial study (which many found
flawed) that claimed children of gay parents were worse off than children of
straight parents, is back in the spotlight for a new bizarre claim: He says
that straight men who watch porn are more likely back same-sex marriage.
Regnerus summarized his study on the website for the
Witherspoon Institute, an organization that’s linked to the National
Organization for Marriage, by saying that porn “undermines the concept that in
the act of sexual intercourse, we share our body and whole self … permanently
and exclusively.On the contrary, it reinforces the idea that people can share
their bodies but not their inmost selves, and that they can do so temporarily
and (definitely) not exclusively without harm.”
Witherspoon Institute, an organization that’s linked to the National
Organization for Marriage, by saying that porn “undermines the concept that in
the act of sexual intercourse, we share our body and whole self … permanently
and exclusively.On the contrary, it reinforces the idea that people can share
their bodies but not their inmost selves, and that they can do so temporarily
and (definitely) not exclusively without harm.”
According to the study, porn makes the viewer believe that
sex has nothing to do with marriage, and this leads to straight men accepting
gay marriage. “Of the men who view pornographic material ’every day or
almost every day,’” Regnerus writes, “54 percent ’strongly agreed’
that gay and lesbian marriage should be legal, compared with around 13 percent
of those whose porn-use patterns were either monthly or less often than
that.”
sex has nothing to do with marriage, and this leads to straight men accepting
gay marriage. “Of the men who view pornographic material ’every day or
almost every day,’” Regnerus writes, “54 percent ’strongly agreed’
that gay and lesbian marriage should be legal, compared with around 13 percent
of those whose porn-use patterns were either monthly or less often than
that.”
The Texas professor, however, does not discuss how porn
impacts women. In fact, he claims that “women typically aren’t as into
porn as men are, and yet women in general tend to support same-sex marriage
more readily than do men. A recent Gallup poll noted that 56 percent of women
favor it, while only 42 percent of men do. No, this theory is not about
women.”
impacts women. In fact, he claims that “women typically aren’t as into
porn as men are, and yet women in general tend to support same-sex marriage
more readily than do men. A recent Gallup poll noted that 56 percent of women
favor it, while only 42 percent of men do. No, this theory is not about
women.”
Earlier this year, social scientists and scholars slammed
Regnerus’ anti-gay parenting study, in which he said that children of same-sex
parents were worse off than children from straight parents.
Regnerus’ anti-gay parenting study, in which he said that children of same-sex
parents were worse off than children from straight parents.
Reaction to his work was so ill-received that some claimed
that he violated ethical standards when researching the study, called “New
Family Structures Study,” and officials from the University of Texas,
where Regnerus teaches, launched an investigation. The result concluded the
professor did not violate ethical standards nor break any rules.
that he violated ethical standards when researching the study, called “New
Family Structures Study,” and officials from the University of Texas,
where Regnerus teaches, launched an investigation. The result concluded the
professor did not violate ethical standards nor break any rules.
The study surveyed about 3,000 18 to 39 year olds who were
mostly raised by straight parents: 175 individuals said they had mothers who
once had a same-sex relationship and 73 said their fathers were involved with
someone of the same sex. The results claim that children from these parents are
more likely to end up on welfare, be unemployed, and attend therapy as adults
when compared to children from straight couples.
mostly raised by straight parents: 175 individuals said they had mothers who
once had a same-sex relationship and 73 said their fathers were involved with
someone of the same sex. The results claim that children from these parents are
more likely to end up on welfare, be unemployed, and attend therapy as adults
when compared to children from straight couples.
The initial study outraged LGBT rights organizations such as
GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign and Family Equality Council, calling the paper
flawed, misleading, and scientifically unsound.
GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign and Family Equality Council, calling the paper
flawed, misleading, and scientifically unsound.
In November, the professor admitted that his controversial
study was flawed but still supported his findings. He told Focus on the
Family’s Citizen Magazine that he would be more careful about the language he
used in his findings in the future.
study was flawed but still supported his findings. He told Focus on the
Family’s Citizen Magazine that he would be more careful about the language he
used in his findings in the future.
“I said ’lesbian mothers’ and ’gay fathers,’ when in
fact, I don’t know about their sexual orientation; I do know about their
same-sex relationship behavior.” he said. “But as far as the findings
themselves, I stand behind them.”
