Unfortunately, the fraudulent use of counterfeit science is not illegal in the United States. If it were, Dr. Paul Cameron, the head of the Family Research Council would have been imprisoned many years ago. And despite the fact that he was officially expelled from the American Psychological Association in 1983 and officially condemned by both the American Sociological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association, Dr. Cameron is still allowed by law to present himself as a credentialed and published psychologist. (He received his PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1966.)

So why should you care? Because Dr. Paul Cameron is the leading scientific expert on homosexuality in the eyes of many Republican judges and lawmakers, Christian fundamentalists, "family values" organizations and conservative media.

Cameron's "research" is frequently cited as support by groups who oppose same-sex marriage and allowing homosexuals to become foster or adoptive parents. He is the primary "scientific" source used by the Traditional Values Coalition and Focus on the Family. Dr. Cameron is often called as an expert witness in court cases concerning civil rights laws for gay Americans.



Simply put, Dr. Cameron is one of the most influential and effective voices in the very successful crusade in this nation to ban same-sex marriage state by state and block efforts to include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. Ah, but he's published in scientific journals, you say? Yes, indeed he is. And you could be as well--for a price. Cameron publishes at his own expense in journals that publish whatever is submitted to them for a fee. It's not expensive. Psychological Reports, Dr. Cameron's favorite "medical journal", charges a mere $27.50 per page.

So the good news is that Cameron has just shot another load of gay-loving scientific detritus and it's a copious cornucopia of yumminess.

Cameron has now documented Early Gay Death Syndrome (EGDS). According to this new research, which Cameron claims is the largest random sex survey ever conducted, the oldest male that could be found who engaged in homosexuality was 54 years old and the oldest female was 49. According to Dr. Cameron the reason for this is because the average life span of a homosexual is 20 plus years shorter than for a heterosexual.

The research, by the way, was based on a sex survey of one Canadian community of slightly over 120,000 adults. The survey revealed that there were more practicing homosexuals among younger people than among older people. Combined with other research, Cameron concluded that this is because homosexuals die young.

The best part of this story is that Cameron put out a press release that suggests that he presented his latest research during yesterday's sessions of the annual Eastern Psychological Association Convention in Philadelphia. According to his press release, "Drs. Paul and Kirk Cameron told attendees of the Eastern Psychological Association Convention..." In fact, he did not present and was not on the agenda at this meeting. The fact is that he roamed the public corridors of the convention venue and "told" doctors about his research. Cameron was neither a registered speaker nor a member of the convention faculty.

Nonetheless he will present this research to lawmakers and judges as data that was "presented" at this legitimate convention and it will be published (@ $27.50 per page) in a so-called scientific journal, a publication that will be slapped down on desks in court houses and legislatures and successfully used against us.

As an aside, I rarely reference my professional life, but for the purpose of this posting I will tell you that I have engaged in professional lobbying on behalf of private industry both in Albany and in Washington. And this kind of crap really resonates. If it's easy to read, can be summarized on one official and slick looking sheet of paper, lists titles like PhD, MSS and ARNP and was published in a journal with an impressive name, congressional and legislative staffers and their bosses will not look beneath the surface. Only two things really matter: how will it play with voters and will you be supporting my campaign efforts.