Luckily for me, the anti-gay phony news site Lifesite news covered the situation. If you ignore the pro-Cameron bias the article pushes, it makes for good reading:
An American psychologist and researcher who specializes in the medical and psychological harms of homosexual activity, has been turned away from speaking venues in Poland after attacks by a left-leaning newspaper.
Dr. Paul Cameron, the founder of the Family Research Institute (FRI), has said he is “deeply disappointed” that Warsaw’s Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University had bowed to political censorship and cancelled not only his lecture but an entire conference on homosexuality this week.
After the liberal newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza published an article calling it “homophobic” for hosting Cameron, the university cancelled the conference titled “Homosexuality from scientific and religious points of view”. Gazeta Wyborcza is the paper that last year was instrumental in a prominent case in which a 14-year old girl was pressured by a feminist activist to abort her baby.
Shortly after Dr. Cameron arrived in Poland this week, Gazeta Wyborcza published a second page article accusing him of misrepresentation of science, and portraying him as a bigot and unreliable lecturer. The paper called Dr. Cameron “a fierce homophobe” and openly called for the cancellation of the conference, suggesting that whoever might attend would be guilty of offending homosexuals. The paper suggested that “international human rights conventions which Poland signed surely forbid these kinds of speaking events from taking place”.
On the day Cameron was to appear, the university announced that the conference had been cancelled. Professor Marek Kowalski, Vice-Rector for Teaching Policy and Student Affairs, announced the cancellation, saying he did not want to damage the image of the university by having it labelled “homophobic”. At the same time, he said he regretted that the media had deprived students of their academic freedom.
How convenient that the article does not go into detail regarding Cameron's many censures and rebukes for his bad research techniques. Rather, the article tries to make it seem that gays are stifling free speech.
I'm for free speech but I'm also for pushing correct information. No university which values its integrity should play host to anyone with a reputation as bad as that of Cameron:
1982 - During an attempt to repeat a pro-gay rights ordinance in Nebraska, he told a story of a child being castrated by a gay man during a sexual attack. When police investigated the story, they found it to be false.
And let's look at the condemnations rained down on him by the medical profession:
“(Cameron) misrepresents my findings and distorts them to advance his homophobic views. I make a very clear distinction in my writing between pedophilia and homosexuality, noting that adult males who sexually victimize young boys are either pedophilic or heterosexual, and that in my research I have not found homosexual men turning away from adult partners to children . . . I consider this totally unprofessional behavior on the part of Dr. Cameron and I want to bring this to your attention. He disgraces his profession.” - Dr. A. Nicholas Groth in 1984 after discovering that Cameron distorted his work.
"Paul Cameron (Nebraska) was dropped from membership for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists - American Psychological Association, 1983
The science and profession of psychology in Nebraska as represented by the Nebraska Psychological Association, formally dissociates itself from the representations and interpretations of scientific literature offered by Dr. Paul Cameron in his writings and public statements on sexuality. Further, the Nebraska Psychological Association would like it known that Dr. Cameron is not a member of the Association. Dr. Cameron was recently dropped from membership in the American Psychological Association for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists - Nebraska Psychological Association, 1984
Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism" - American Sociological Association, 1985
The Canadian Psychological Association takes the position that Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and thus, it formally disassociates itself from the representation and interpretations of scientific literature in his writings and public statements on sexuality. - Canadian Psychological Association, 1996
Cameron has lost all credibility in America. Other than a few idiotically anti-gay bloggers and ignorant bodies (such as Miss California Carrie Prejean's church and the Illinois Family Institute), no one sees him as a legitimate researcher. Major religious right groups from time to time cite Cameron but at their own peril.
It's nice to see that some in other countries are catching on to Cameron's lies.
For a complete look at Cameron's lies, go here.
Great post! I disagree with the assertion that "Cameron has lost all credibility in America," though. The self-generated publicity surrounding Cameron and those like him gives a veneer of truth for the desperate and those grasping at straws. He is legitimate to those who don't know any better, and have been told so by people in positions of power. His lies and mistruths need to be pointed out and publicly ridiculed at every opportunity, and his professionalism should be continually questioned.
ReplyDeletePoland isn't known as a particularly LGBT friendly place so if they see through Cameron that says something.
ReplyDelete