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American Family Association of Michigan 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wed., Nov. 29, 2000
CONTACT: Gary Glenn 517-835-7978
Grand Rapids Murder Tragic Illustration of Higher Domestic Violence Risk Among Homosexuals
GRAND RAPIDS -- The murder of a Grand Rapids woman by her same-sex partner, witnesses allege, is a tragic illustration if true of just one of many severe health risks disproportionately faced by individuals who engage in homosexual behavior, a Michigan pro-family and anti-violence group said Wednesday.

The Grand Rapids Press Wednesday reported that a Grand Rapids woman accused of stabbing her female partner to death was ordered Tuesday to stand trial in Kent County Circuit Court. If convicted, the accused faces life in prison. Toxicology tests determined the victim had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16 percent -- the legal threshold for intoxication under driving laws is 0.10 percent -- and that traces of cocaine were found in her bloodstream. [LINK]

The American Family Association of Michigan said the murder "illustrates one of the many reasons a truly compassionate society must discourage rather than 'enable' individuals who engage in homosexual behavior, which so drastically increases their risk of serious disease, domestic violence, substance abuse, and even death up to 20 years earlier than the general population."

"Scientific research has proven that in addition to facing a dramatically higher risk of AIDS, cancer, hepatitis, and serious sexually-transmitted infections, individuals who engage in homosexual behavior also have a higher risk of substance abuse and of being violently attacked by their same-gender sex partners," said AFA-Michigan President Gary Glenn. 

Glenn said the most striking evidence of increased risk of domestic violence among same-sex partners comes from researchers who are themselves involved in homosexual behavior. He cited a book titled Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them, authored by homosexual activists David Island and Patrick Letellier, who document domestic violence as a primary health problem for same-gender sex partners ranking behind only AIDS for males, cancer for females, and drug abuse for both.

Island and Letellier write: "It is likely the incidence of domestic violence among gay men is nearly double that in the heterosexual population. As many as 650,000 gay men may be victims of domestic violence each year." (Page 14)

The researchers estimate battery occurs in 50 percent of gay male couples (page 12), while "we believe [heterosexual domestic abuse] is closer to 20 percent." (page 50).

"Island and Letellier argue that the rate for domestic violence in gay couples should be at least the same as in straight couples, as there is no evidence that gay men are any less violent than straight men. However, it is also possible to argue further that the incidence of gay domestic violence is probably greater than heterosexual domestic violence," renowned pro-homosexual psychologist Dr. Richard Niolon writes in the Gay & Lesbian Resources section of his Web site, PsychPage. "Many issues involved indicate that incidence of domestic violence in gay and lesbian couples is probably at least as high as in heterosexual couples, if not higher." [LINK]

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health reported last year that "domestic violence is at least as common and probably more common among homosexuals than among heterosexuals" and that "significantly higher percentages of homosexual men and women abuse drugs, alcohol and tobacco than do heterosexuals."

Thus, compared to the rare but always highly publicized attacks by outside assailants against individuals who engage in homosexual behavior, the most significant ongoing but rarely-reported threat of violence such individuals face is being assaulted by their own same-gender sex partners, Glenn said.

The New York Times reported just that earlier this month, he said. In a Nov. 6th article, Times reporter John Leland wrote: "While crimes against gay men and lesbians like the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming attract more attention in the news, domestic abuse in same-sex relationships is both widespread and severe..., according to a recent report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects, a network of 24 nonprofit gay and lesbian organizations."

"The study by the antiviolence projects found that cases of domestic violence among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people that were reported to member groups rose 23 percent in 1999," the Times reported. "Abuse includes emotional cruelty, as documented by Claire Renzetti, a professor of sociology at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, who surveyed 100 victims to study the breadth of violence among lesbians."

An increased risk of violent assault by their same-gender sex partners is far from the only life-threatening risk faced by individuals who engage in homosexual behavior, Glenn said.
  • Oxford University’s International Journal of Epidemiology reported in 1997 that "life expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality continues, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 will not reach their 65th birthday." [LINK]
  • Between the Lines, Michigan’s statewide "gay and lesbian" newspaper, reported last month that the risk of anal cancer "soars" by nearly 4,000% for men who have sex with men. "The rate doubles again for those who are HIV positive." BTL admits there’s no such thing as "safe sex" to prevent this "soaring" cancer risk: "A condom offers only limited protection."
    (Between the Lines: [LINK], Michigan News, "Anal Cancer and You," Sept. 29, 2000)
  • The Medical Institute of Sexual Health also reported last year that "homosexual men are at significantly increased risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, anal cancer, gonorrhea and gastrointestinal infections as a result of their sexual practices" and that "women who have sex with women are at significantly increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, breast cancer and ovarian cancer than are heterosexual women." MISH also found "significantly higher percentages of homosexual men and women abuse drugs, alcohol and tobacco than do heterosexuals." (Medical Institute of Sexual Health: [LINK], Executive Summary, "Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality," 1999)
  • The Advocate, a "national gay and lesbian newsmagazine," concurs that "lesbians are at higher risk of breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer." [LINK]
  • The Center for Disease Control reports that men who engage in homosexual behavior are 860% more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD), increasing up to 500% their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Men who have sex with men (MSM) "have large numbers of anonymous partners, which can result in rapid, extensive transmission of STDs," the CDC warns. "Control of STDs is a central component of HIV infection prevention in the United States; resurgence of bacterial STD threatens national HIV infection prevention efforts." [LINK]
  • Gay Health reports that men who have sex with men are 320% more likely than heterosexuals to have unprotected sex without telling their partners they’re HIV-positive. [LINK]
  • Reuters reported that while "’gay men of all ages remain at an alarming risk,’ a CDC spokesman told a news conference," another CDC study "confirms that young bisexual men are a ‘bridge’ for HIV transmission to women." [LINK] 

"Based on all this scientific evidence, much of it from researchers who themselves support or are engaged in homosexual behavior, it is clear that if we truly care about people ensnared in the homosexual lifestyle and others their high-risk behavior threatens, society must discourage such behavioral choices, not play the role of 'enabler' by tolerating and affirming such self-destructive life-threatening activity," Glenn said. 

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