MIAMI BEACH, February 26, 2007  –  A new website is launched today which encourages scientists to report right wing distortions of their research on gay issues.

The website, RespectMyResearch.org, was unveiled today by Truth Wins OUT, a Miami-based group, headed by gay activist Wayne Besen, that counters such organisations as James Dobson’s Focus on the Family which manipulate social science to help justify discrimination,

“This website is a powerful response to the brazen and outrageous manner in which the far right has hijacked science to support their discriminatory aims,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen.

“Our goal is to make it easier for legitimate researchers to fight back and demand their work be respected and not co-opted for an extreme political agenda.”

Dr. Kyle Pruett, professor of child psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, argues that when people start spinning science, there has to be a response.

“Journalism used to handle this, but not anymore,” he said.  “So it’s bounced back to become increasingly the responsibility of the people doing the research.”

In a new trend, several researchers have already come forward this year to say that Focus on the Family has distorted or exaggerated their work.

The RespectMyResearch website features six such revered scientists who were “mortified” when they learned how Focus on the Family leader James Dobson cravenly manipulated their findings.  The new website contains exclusive Truth Wins Out videos interviewing these professors.

Letters from scientists, obtained by Truth Wins Out, are also posted asking for Dobson to either stop using their work or to accurately portray their studies.

“If ‘Double-Talk Dobson’ had been accused by only one professor of manipulating research, it might be a legitimate mistake,” said Mr. Besen.

“However, when six researches in three countries have stepped forward in less than a year, I think it is fair to say that a disturbing pattern of deception has emerged.

“Unfortunately, Dobson has refused to address the concerns of these researchers and continues to portray their reasonable requests for scientific integrity as a liberal conspiracy,” he said.

■ Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.

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Dr. Kyle Pruett on the distortions of his researches.

... And Dr. Judith Stacy, Professor of Sociology at New York University

 

Posted: 26 February 2007 at 09:00 (UK time)