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By
WADE GOSSETT
There are two way you can
approach sexuality: We're either hardwired to be
sexually attracted to men or women (or,
presumably, many other objects of attraction,
animal, mineral of vegetable) or we simply make a
choice at some point of our lives. It's a simple
way of putting, and hardly scientific, but holding
one view over the other helps to explain your
attitudes toward homosexuality.
There have been instances throughout human history
when homosexuality was a culturally sanctioned,
and even encouraged behavior, most notably
classical Athens and Sparta. In Athens, it took
the form of pederasty among an older, mentoring
male and his male teenager student. In
militaristic Sparta (and for a while in ancient
Thebes) it was a way of enhancing troop morale
(men not only fought together, but slept together,
in both senses of the word). It is fascinating to
watch homophobes argue against gays joining the
military, and the Spartan Army, one of the
greatest armies in history, encouraged
homosexuality as part of military training.
Moreover, Theban's Sacred Band, another famous
military unit, was entirely made up of homosexual
couples.
However, Athens, Sparta and Thebes have all
survived because men still fell in love with women
and married women and had babies. Even when the
state actively encouraged homosexuality, men still
loved women.
It's hard to understand why anybody who's rational
can think that homosexuality is a choice. Nobody
would argue that other visceral human reactions
are choices. It's quite obvious, for instance,
that while there are acquired culinary tastes,
most people like sweet things over bitter.
Virtually nobody likes the smell of rotten eggs,
spoiled meat, etc. The vast majority of people
think swage smells bad. Nobody taught us that, and
I do not choose to eat chocolate ice cream instead
of feces arbitrarily. Instead, the former tastes
and feels good, and the latter smells foul. That
much should be obvious. But not to everybody, of
course.
The 1993 documentary "One Nation Under God,"
directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik,
provides an illuminating look into those who
benighted enough to think that homosexuality is a
bad behavioral choice and therefore can be
"cured."
The film concentrates on Gary and Michael, the
founders of an organization called Exodus, a
ministry devoted to turning homosexuals into
god-fearing heterosexuals. Both men are religious,
and they had decided that being gay was a sin and
incompatible with the teachings of the
Christianity. The irony was that, despite their
well-meaning attempt to lead heterosexual lives,
Gary and Michael fell in love with each other.
Their commentary throughout the film is
fascinating and revealing.
The filmmakers have also included terrifying yet
laughable archival footage from '50s and '60s
psychologists, and in a laudable attempt at
balance, there are interviews with people from
both sides of the issue, like the current head of
Exodus. Some really funny bits show shows the
ludicrous lengths these religious nitwits will go
in an effort to turn homosexual men and women: For
instance, apart from aversion therapy, "curing"
techniques includes beauty makeovers for butch
lesbians and football for gay men.
There are no extra features of note. Just trailers
for other for other First Run Features
documentaries ("Venus Boyz," "The Fluffer," "The
Trials of Henry Kissinger" and "Power and
Terror.") The current commentary track with the
filmmakers, updating us on what’s going on with
Exodus would have been most welcome. In any case,
the documentary remains very current and relevant. |
