The truth on homosexual health

"As far as I can see the lifespan of practising gays is significantly shorter than the ordinary so-called heterosexual man … What we need to do is to look at why this may be the case and we need to do it in a compassionate and objective way. Some people say it's because of the things I say … and that creates for example a spate of suicides. That may be true, but how can we get at the facts if we're never willing to talk about it."

This led to accusations from University of NSW researcher Martin Holt and others that Jensen was using dodgy research from the USA. The Archbishop responded affirming his assertions but calling for further discussion.

So what does the research show? Well, it depends where you want to look. One frustration in this area that so much 'research' seems designed with an agenda.

A human rights complaint by a group of gay, lesbian and bisexual Canadians against their government in February 2009 is one of Jim Wallace's sources.

"The health status of GLB Canadians is among the poorest of any population in Canada," it asserts.

"While the number of studies on the life expectancy of GLB people is limited, what research exists consistently indicates that the life expectancy of GLB people is substantially lower than that of the general population. It has been estimated that gay/bisexual men have a life expectancy 20 years less than the average man in Canada."

So Wallace and Jensen are conveying accurately the substance of this submission. The issue is then whether they are using the content to bolster their case unfairly.

Gay rights advocates claim that their passionate "warning about" same-sex relationships is actually code for "condemning and prohibiting". The conservative Christians are not really concerned about assisting gay people to find safe, fulfilling, approved unions, critics say. They want them banned altogether.

These attitudes, according to Steve Hambleton and Rodney Croome, are at the root of the discrimination which is the primary cause of the health issues.

"Yes, there are health problems in parts of the gay and lesbian community", Croome said. "But they are caused by the prejudice of people like Mr Wallace and the discriminatory laws he defends."

The research in Canada, quoted above, supports this:

"There are many factors causing a lower life expectancy for GLB Canadians, with the social isolation and marginalization caused by homophobia and heterosexism at the top of the list of major stressors in their lives. This is no surprise: We know that other populations such as Aboriginals, people of color, and the poor have poorer health status because of their marginalization."

This week may not have advanced the nation towards agreement. But it may have encouraged both sides to clarify their claims and listen more attentively to their opponents.

The debate has a way to go. Hence the more tolerance, understanding and forgiveness the better.

Or, as Oscar Wilde advised, "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much".