James Holsinger is a quack, pass it on

Courtesy of Madpriest, an article showing some quotes from an article Holsinger wrote in 1991. Yes, his opinions could have changed in the meantime. And yes, in the office of Surgeon General, it's not out of the question that he could act in an unbiased, evidence-based fashion. But why take the chance?

In 1991, Dr. James W. Holsinger -- a University of Kentucky professor who is President Bush's nominee for U.S. surgeon general -- wrote a paper arguing that gay sex is biologically unnatural and unhealthy.

Like male and female pipe fittings, certain male and female body parts are designed for each other, Holsinger wrote in a paper prepared for a United Methodist Church committee studying homosexuality. "When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur," Holsinger wrote in the paper, titled Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality.

The paper was released Monday by the Human Rights Campaign, a national group that advocates for gay and lesbian rights. UK spokeswoman Mary Margaret Colliver confirmed that Holsinger had written the paper. Holsinger declined to comment for this story, as he has not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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Holsinger's colleagues at the University of Kentucky were surprised to learn of the views expressed in the 1991 paper. They said his personal objections to homosexuality -- if he had any -- would not affect policy decisions as surgeon general.

They pointed to a 2002 incident in which Holsinger, then chancellor of the UK Medical Center, defended a session on lesbian health issues at a women's health conference over the objection of two state senators. The senators threatened to withhold funding because of the 90-minute session.

Phyllis Nash, who organized the conference, said Holsinger did not have to be persuaded to defend the session. "He basically said we are obligated as individuals to meet the needs of everyone, regardless of orientation."

At the time, Holsinger defended the session in a Herald-Leader article. "It's important to educate health care professionals on the issues that surround lesbians," he said. "It's important professionals have the knowledge base to do care for these patients in a quality manner."

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The 1991 paper is especially troubling, he said.

"He's pathologizing homosexual practices to make a point," Ginsberg said. "And we think that's inappropriate scientifically."

The paper was written for a Methodist study committee, which was considering whether the church should change its view that homosexuality violates Christian teaching. In the paper, Holsinger uses studies showing higher rates of sexually transmitted disease in gay men and the likelihood of injury from anal sex to argue that homosexuality isn't natural.

Holsinger quit the Methodist study committee on homosexuality soon after he submitted the paper. According to a 1991 article in Time Magazine, he "felt certain its conclusions would follow liberal lines."

The committee, however, did not change the United Methodist Church's official position. The denomination does not condone homosexuality and it considers its practice "incompatible with Christian teaching."