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July 13th, 2011
07:45 AM ET
What's going on at the Bachmann clinic?By Jim Acosta and Erika Dimmler, CNN Lake Elmo, MN (CNN)-In her campaign for president, Michele Bachmann touts her background as a small business owner. "A small business job creator," is how the Minnesota Congresswoman and Republican Presidential candidate described herself in her first campaign ad in Iowa. That business is Bachmann and Associates. It's a Christian counseling service located outside Minneapolis. Bachmann started the center with her husband, Marcus who is the lead counselor at the clinic. The aspiring First couple and their children are pictured on the center's web site. For at least five years, Bachmann and Associates has faced accusations it uses a controversial therapy that encourages gay and lesbian patients to change their sexual orientation. Andrew Ramirez, a former patient at Bachmann and Associates, said in an interview with CNN he witnessed the practice first-hand. In 2004, Ramirez turned to the clinic at the urging of his mother who wanted him to talk about his homosexuality. Read the full story here from CNN.com/politicsWatch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 8pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here. |
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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One more time for the Bachmanns' benefit:
o All "Abrahamics" believe that their god created all of us and of course that includes the g-ay members of the human race. Also, those who have studied ho-mo-se-xuality have determined that there is no choice involved therefore ga-ys are ga-y because god made them that way.
To wit:
o The Royal College of Psy-chiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psy-choanalytic and psy-chological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person’s fundamental heteros-exual or hom-ose-xual orientation. It would appear that s-exual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of ge-netic factors and the early ut-erine environment. Se-xual orientation is therefore not a choice.[60] "
"Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fe-tal brain develops during the intraut-erine period in the male direction through a direct action of tes-tosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hor-mone surge. In this way, our gender identi-ty (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and s-exual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender ident–ity or s-exual orientation."[8
Of course, those gays who belong to Abrahamic religions abide by the rules of no adu-ltery or for-nication allowed.
And because of basic biology differences and Abrahamic and other religious traditions said monogamous ventures should always be called same-se-x unions not same-se-x marriages.
I consider myself an independent voter. I admit, as a young adult, I have voted Republican every presidential election thus far that I am eligible.
This will be the first year I don't do that, and let me tell you why.
In reality, social issues are wedge issues that many politicians use to garner votes. Many candidates will advertise pro- or anti- stances on social issues when in reality they will spend most of their time in office making economic/foreign policy changes, not social ones (they do some social changes of course, just not as many).
That being said, it's clear that the Republicans:
1) are focusing way too much on social issues and not enough on economy and/or foreign policy (i.e., not enough specific solutions to our problems, just a lot of bashing of the president).
2) views that do NOT represent the majority of Americans.
I can't vote for presidents like this anymore. I would be happy to vote for a moderate/centrist Republican like Giuliani, but since he has no change of winning the primaries, I will gladly cast my vote for a Democratic candidate for the first time.
Republican candidates... you're making yourselves go extinct. Get with the times... it's the 21st century for crying out loud. Please realize that you will make your grandparents' mistakes, and that your children and grandchildren will be embarassed that you were so closed-minded. Just learn from history and realize that sometimes being on the right side of history means questioning if maybe your views on things are wrong.
Michele Bachman Graph –
I /
C I *
R I /
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Z I /
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I_/__________________
HOT
ok, the spacing did not work the same as typed...
I'm unelectable.
Hmm... Yet another reason to not vote for Ms. Bachmann.
Cheers!
What a couple of nut jobs. This kind of thinking belongs in the dark ages...oh, that's right, the right wing is trying to bring BACK the dark ages, I forgot. The last thing this country needs is for religious delutionists to be in charge.
One more time for the Bachmann's benefit:
o All "Abrahamics" believe that their god created all of us and of course that includes the g-ay members of the human race. Also, those who have studied ho-mo-se-xuality have determined that there is no choice involved therefore ga-ys are ga-y because god made them that way.
To wit:
o The Royal College of Psy-chiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psy-choanalytic and psy-chological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person’s fundamental heteros-exual or hom-ose-xual orientation. It would appear that s-exual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of ge-netic factors and the early ut-erine environment. Se-xual orientation is therefore not a choice.[60] "
"Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fe-tal brain develops during the intraut-erine period in the male direction through a direct action of tes-tosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hor-mone surge. In this way, our gender identi-ty (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and s-exual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender ident–ity or s-exual orientation."[8
Of course, those gays who belong to Abrahamic religions abide by the rules of no adu-ltery or for-nication allowed.
And because of basic biology differences and Abrahamic and other religious traditions said monogamous ventures should always be called same-se-x unions not same-se-x marriages.
Gays need the Christian support and Christian education. Gay supporters are the cancer to gays.
Please stop, you're embarrassing yourself......go, run back to your bridge, troll. Live to fight another day.
Wow are you ignorant or what. It's experts in their fields that are showing that being gay is not a mental illness, and that due to hormonal factors and other things gays are born gay. You're the cancer in this world with your bigotry and hatred.
@Diamond Sky: Are you like a plant from CNN? An undercover agent of conflict enlisted to get more messages on their forums by pi-ssing everyone off? Or are your opinions really that vile?
Definition of Troll: In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory[citation needed], extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion
DiamondSky, like yourself and lot of Christians are ga-y or bis-exual.
All the men I ever dated turned gay after meeting me. I think it's just a coincidence.
Do you ever get tired of being so ignorant, addled? You are simply full of cr3p.
Based on all the gay bashing that is coming out of the Bachmann camp (besides the modeling one) it is up to the gay community to put the kibosh on Michele Bachmann’s campaign once and for all. Let us call this Michele Bachmann’s Anita Bryant moment. Who can we boycott! http://ow.ly/5Dqxp
I cannot assess the work of the Bachmann clinic, but in my eyes it is wrong to prejudge Mrs. Bachmann, just because she refuses gayness as a ordinary way of life.
At the moment some German Roman Catholic bishops condemn gay people. That is bollocks, and contrary to Mrs. Bachmann's behaviour. Mrs. Bachmann tries to help people, the RCC-bishops condemn people.
According to Romans Chapter 1 there are many sins, causing God's wrath, not solely gayness. Thus, someone, who condemns gay people should not forget to condemn himself for his own sins (child abuse).
The Christian Church doesn't condemn gay people, because she is aware of her own sinfulness. However, everybody should repent, the gays and the Roman Catholic bishops.
Regarding the above article: I think, it is appropriate to be upset about people condemning gays or other sinners, but it is a nonsense to get upset about people trying to help gays and other sinners.
So you think abusing people's mental state is "helping them"?
I see where you stand. Very telling.
Luke, g ay is a big umbrella, and there are all kinds of people under it. Some are girly and wimpy, some dress in leather and own pit bulls, and most are just folks. Plenty of them hate being gay and would like to change, and plenty of them don't hate it. Some would be interested in a reliable therapy, and many wouldn't change. There's nothing wrong with this as a line of inquiry, but as a cult-driven money-harvesting operation it seems pretty disgusting.
Did you miss the part about the A.P.A. said? 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that ho_mos_exuality, in and itself, is not as_sociated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Ho_mos_exuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information.
Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients' s_exual orientation from ho_mos_exual to heteros_exual. Close scrutiny of these reports, however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of these claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective that condemns ho_mos_exuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly docu_mented; for example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported over time, as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention.
The American Psychological As_sociation is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the As_sociation's Council of Representatives pas_sed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to ho_mophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of s_exual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy will take place in a professionally neutral environment, without any social bias.
> I cannot assess the work of the Bachmann clinic, but in my eyes it is wrong to prejudge Mrs. Bachmann, just because she refuses gayness as a ordinary way of life.
Not if we're judging her based on that belief. Which we are. Her belief is wrong and close minded. It's even a sillier concept if you believe in a God that created us.
> At the moment some German Roman Catholic bishops condemn gay people. That is bollocks, and contrary to Mrs. Bachmann's behaviour. Mrs. Bachmann tries to help people, the RCC-bishops condemn people.
Seeing them as negative by default is a condemnation.
> According to Romans Chapter 1 there are many sins, causing God's wrath, not solely gayness. Thus, someone, who condemns gay people should not forget to condemn himself for his own sins (child abuse).
Who cares what the bible says. Do some research into how the bible was created and the errors it contains and you'll see it's nothing more then a man made too. Like all other religions. I base my decisions on reality, not some writings by dirty, ignorant sheep farmers 2000 years ago, or earlier.
> The Christian Church doesn't condemn gay people, because she is aware of her own sinfulness. However, everybody should repent, the gays and the Roman Catholic bishops.
It does by declaring what they do as a sin.
> Regarding the above article: I think, it is appropriate to be upset about people condemning gays or other sinners, but it is a nonsense to get upset about people trying to help gays and other sinners.
You assume that there is help needed. There isn't.
@Bible Clown: It's funny. I'm reading The Feminine Mystique and in it Friedan talks about the push for functionality classes for women in college. Women felt anxiety and fear and resentment to some extent for being told they had to conform to the cut-out housewife standard that society told them they had to be. And people got it into their heads that women were only resentful because they were too educated in things they didn't need to know to perform their proper function of child-rearing, housework, cooking etc etc. So they created classes in school to teach women to conform. And darn if this doesn't sound very similar.
Gays are told they are not performing the function that society thinks they should perform ie being straight. So they have therapy to make them straight because it fits into the image of the functions men and women are supposed to have. What's the use of a girly man? The same as the worth of a manly girl. The problem with all of this is it ignores completely that the functions we think men and women should have are inaccurate. Eventually people realised that the anxiety women were feeling is because no matter what you do you cannot conform to an unrealistic standard. I suspect it is the same with gays who don't like being gay. They are told over and over, you are a misfit who is going against the function of being a man (or woman) that God and society has required. Take away the unrealistic standard, you take away the anxiety. Chasing an unrealistic goal just heightens anxiety and makes you hate yourself even more.
"just because she refuses gayness as a ordinary way of life."
Many people used to refuse left handedness as a ordinary way of life.
"In many modern European languages, including English, the word for the direction "right" also means "correct" or "proper", and also stands for authority and justice"
"In Chinese culture, the adjective "left" sometimes means "improper" or "out of accord". For instance, the phrase "left path" stands for unorthodox or immoral means."
"Historically, the left side, and subsequently left-handedness, was considered negative in many cultures. The Latin word sinistra originally meant "left" but took on meanings of "evil" or "unlucky" by the Classical Latin era, and this double meaning survives in European derivatives of Latin, and in the English word "sinister"." – Wiki
You are either born gay or straight, just as you are left handed or right handed (not including the ambidexterous or bisaxuals). Just because some ancient religion thinks your the devil for writing with your left hand or being attracted to the same gender does not make it so.
Hi Rein,
"it is wrong to PREjudge Mrs. Bachmann,"
When would it be ok to judge her ? The fact is she has repeatedly said some completely crazy things in the media in this country, (BTW does the German media report on her ?), and would you want us to judge her wanting AFTER she gets elected ? Sorry. Last summer on the air, she stated that Obama's trip to India was costing $200,000,000 per day.
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/05/kth-the-200-million-myth-about-obamas-asia-trip/
She says she was a tax attorney, (and worked for the IRS). Wouldn't someone like that have some command of numbers? She has never answered Anderson Coopers questions about that false statement. It has been followed by many equally crazy statements. We are NOT PREjudging her. She is simply not credible, and that judgement was made AFTER she gave a lot of evidence for her non-credible status, not before.
(Also what is your favorite German news outlet ?)
I'd do her. You always have the best se x with the crazy ones.
But wouldn't it seem like you were banging a character from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"?
Can anyone support someone who thinks of gay people as "barbarians"? Well from what I read here, yeah, some people probably would. And that's a scary prospect. This probably makes Michele Bachman look better in their eyes.
Reparative therapy implies that there is something wrong that needs fixing. Except there is nothing wrong. If we didn't treat being gay as wrong, places like Bachmann's clinic would not exist. It's no surprise that these places often have ties to religion. It is an outdated and wrong-headed concept that people who do no harm to anyone or themselves are considered evil. I'm honestly a little frustrated about having to keep saying that gay people are just other human beings. Not sinners, not recruiters, not barbarians. A gay person is a gay person. That should need no further explanations. And it shouldn't require a defense. And certainly not reparative therapy.
I do have to say though from what I read of their practices, it actually sounds not as bad as some other places I've read about that use physical and psychological intimidation to "change" the se-xual orientation of kids in their care. I guess the Bachmann's clinic is a more subtle form of abuse. But IMO it's very destructive nevertheless.
@Frogist
The "barbarians" comment made me raise an eyebrow as well.
It is unfortunate that these kinds of people are able to capitalize on the shame, guilt and fear that pervade collective subconscious puritan ethic to convince some gays that they are inherently evil.
I wonder how people would react if this clinic was counselling people to get their skin bleached?
That didn't come out quite right (doing all this while juggling work at the same time)
" that pervade collective subconscious puritan ethic "
Should have read:
"It is unfortunate that these kinds of people are able to capitalize on the shame, guilt and fear that underly America's collective subconscious puritan ethic in order to convince gays that they are inherently evil.
"
Bachmann is literally a walking cancer to our Country. I hope everyone remembers how the Republican's are ruining America, at election time. OBAMA 2012!!!!
They don't remember yesterday unfortunately. They will vote for whoever has shown their face on TV more often since thats what will be fresh in their drone like pea brains. A coniving, manipulating, lying ruling elite governing the ignorant, gullible masses, ah mer hic uh the doo ti full.
First of all, gays should feel disgusted about being gay and be taught such feeling is 100% normal. And all humans should feel disgusted about every immoral behavior as a normal human being should. Being brainwashed to feel proud of everything shameful or sinful is the plague the anti-christian West is pushing upon the world today. God clearly said He will destroy such a civilization because it's not fit to continue.
So why is Sweden, for example, flourishing?
I don't care what "God" said you imbecile. GODS ARE FANTASIES BY MEN FOR MEN!!! I refuse to allow you pseudo Christian's to dictate policy no matter what it takes. Christ would have no part of your false religions. YOU ARE MAMMONITES BECAUSE IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY AND WITH NOT 1 SMIDGEN OF COMPASSION! Christians have become greedy, merciless, and DO NOT practice the ways of Christ, so shut-up and let the rest of us in the real world make the real world decisions.
DiamondSky, I take it that you are bise-xual and chose to be with the opposite s-ex?
@DiamondSky: The word "normal" irks me everytime I hear it. I always have to wonder what the person is referring to. Because "normal" changes depending on your surroundings. And "normal" doesn't always equal good. Consider this statement: "It is normal for women to be ra-ped in Syria." According to your statement, we should embrace the norm. Does that mean rap-ing women is good? Or that we should continue doing so because it is "normal"? No.
Discrimination of gays and the feeling of shame and fear that it brings might be "normal", but it certainly doesn't mean we should enforce it or tolerate it or consider it a good thing.
@DiamondSky,
You said, "First of all, gays should feel disgusted about being gay and be taught such feeling is 100% normal."
There is nothing good in making a person despise themselves. Nothing. It is a vile game that religion has been using for millennium to control the population. It results in broken, depressed people who hate themselves and everyone around them.
What good is "normal" then?
You also said, "And all humans should feel disgusted about every immoral behavior as a normal human being should. Being brainwashed to feel proud of everything shameful or sinful is the plague the anti-christian West is pushing upon the world today. God clearly said He will destroy such a civilization because it's not fit to continue."
The brainwashing I see here is the religious kind, that makes you believe that what you believe is more important to my life than what I believe.
@Frogist, thank you. Your words resonate reason.
To everyone but DiamondSky/Adelina/FairGarden/Zelda....
Stop responding to this troll, I mean, if it starts good, healthy debate, I'm all for it, but just know that this person doesn't really believe in the views she's spouting nor cares to even look at a response that it gets
@ DiamondSky/Adelina?fairgarden ect....
I'm really getting tired trying to remember your alias's, please stick with one, thanks.
"God clearly said He will destroy such a civilization" Bring Him On. I bet Seal Team Six could take him.
I know my love of gays looks like hatred to some of you wicked atheist anti-Christs, but true Christians like me are doing God's real work by loving them like this. He told me so. Just now, the way he always does. First, the pain in my brain gets extra bad . . . that's like God's direct line to me ringing . . . then my dead parrot squaks God's message. Today it was "Go on CNN and make a fool of yourself again!" Though it also sounded like "Polly wants a margarita."
Then the nice pastors dressed in white came and gave me my injection of God's Love, though the bottle says "thorazine" to fool the atheists, and they put me in my favorite huggy jacket and I got to go meditate on God in the soft room again.
Could a reader with a law background explain to me how this is not Medicare fraud? It seems to have the basic resemblence of a scam in which tax dollars are being channelled into her family's pockets.
Worth looking into!
IANAL.
Is "Christian counseling" covered under Medicare? Does her firm accept Medicare patients? I don't know.
Nonimus
Bachman's husband does indeed accept governemnt money to run this clinic.
Thanks Luke.
Here's one source that backs you up, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43570552/ns/politics-decision_2012/t/bachmanns-husband-got-medicaid-funds/
This alone disqualifies Bachman as an even thinkable candidate for president.
That would be true if not for a sizable conservative right base. I fear the sheeple who identify with her may get their wish if the economy and unemployment remains in the toilet. If the vote swings anti-Obama among independants then she will succeed by default. "shudder"
She would be a disaster for business, and so they won't let her run as their candidate.
Another example of dogmatic stupidity. Christians who think you can "fix the gay" or at the very least try to convince them to remain celebate so that the creator of the universe, who apparently can't stop watching what people do with their plumbing, isn't offended. What a crock. The only ones who are concerned are the phobic myth followers. Seriously, with the planet already overpopulated we should be encouraging gay pairing not marginalising them. Michele Bachman is a terrifying prospect for President and would only herald backward swing in human rights.
Well said...she is the epitome of what is wrong with America
Yeah, how dare we expect people to change, I mean after all how stupid of us to build an entire legal system around rehabilitation and correction... the nerve.
@mike
People that are sent to prison have done harm to society, else they wouldn't be punshined.
Being gay does no harm to anyone, is not a crime and therefore requires no rehabilitation.
Plenty of straight couples enjoy an.al s.ex – should we send them to jail to be rehabilitated?
What consenting adults do in private is their own business!
Great post, AtheistSteve.
You have to wonder whether Bachmann et al are even aware that ho-mose-xuality occurs in many animal spec-ies, not just humans, as noted in the National Geograp-hic and elsewhere. One should ask the Bachmann clinic if their techni-ques have been tried e.g. on gay bab-oons, and why their god made so many "si-nful" animals.
Bachmann great research. I wonder if PeterVN is aware that praying mantis females kill the males after s.ex or that hippo fathers try to kill male babies for fear of taking over the heard. I wonder if PeterVN would be consistent in his "Well it's in nature" stance to allow murder of humans. Or does he believe that humans have an intrinsic value.
Isn't wonderful how the Bible clearly lines up with this though of sinful animes stating that all creation was subject to futility
What of medical malpractice?
They do great harm and should be held accountable.
Jesus freaks of the worst order, truly an embarrasment to modernity and this country
Medical malpractice aside, this sounds like Medicare fraud to me.
As'suming that Dr. Bachmann sees patients in his clinic, and as'suming that he is licensed in the State of Minnesota, then if they run the clinic as other mental health clinics are, with each patient visit a diagnostic code is a'ssigned based on the DSM, (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychological A'ssociation). Based on that code, and the length of the visit, a billing statement is sent to the patient, and/or their insurance company, Medicare, or Medicaid.
If Bachmann is sending bills to those people and insurance ent'ities NOT based on established "safe and effective" treatments and treatment plans, and objectively established and accepted diagnostic codes, (and there IS NO CODE for a condition of "ho'mos'exuality"), then this consti'tutes health care fraud. There is also an issue for investigation of whether insurance companies are acting in collusion with these fraudulent practices, and reimbursing the clinic for treatment that is NOT accepted as safe and effective and meeting the community standards in psychiatric care.
So some of the questions which remain are :
a. what codes are the clinic using for the visits ?
b. who is paying for the visits ?
c. do they disclose to (potential) patients that their treatments/plans are not in accordance with accepted norms and
community practices ?
d. are clinics in Minnesota allowed to operate outside the norms of accepted community standards ?
e. does this clinic make any claims regarding it's use of established practices ?
@Bucky Ball
Hey pal...
Yep. Nice post.
Regards,
Peace...
All good questions. Well said, Buckminster.
f.(one more) ...... Dr. Bachmann stated on the air a few weeks ago that the clinic had received a moderately sized support payment from a government agency for a training program at the clinic. In order for that to happen the program would have to be accredited. Who did that accreditation, and what did they say and find during their most recent accreditation visits ? Whoever that was needs to be questioned.
g. and yet another one...
I saw on the CNN story that there was discussion between the clients and the therapists in the secretly taped examples about the therapy in question. Someone needs to ask for copies of those visits and see if the ENTIRE visit was charted, ie did the therapists doc'ument ALL their reco'mmendations and discussions, (accurately) to these clients. If they were to skate on the coding questions for some reason, they could still be cited for inc'omplete docu'mentation by the State Board (of whatever it is) in Minnesota, if they are inc'omplete.
Being straight or g-ay (as I understand it) is determined by the complicated chemistry that occurs when the fetus is developing. It's thought that a lack of a specific hormone can make the fetus attracted to men, while application of the hormone makes it attracted to females, regardless of what the actual se-x of the fetus is.
Asking a g-ay or les-bian person to change their se-xual orientation is like asking a straight person to suddenly become g-ay or les-bian. It's not a choice, it's an intregal part of who they are and relates to how their brain is wired.
What is sad is when people think that it's wrong or unnatural to be g-ay or les-bian. It's neither good or bad people, it's just a trait of the mind that is given during development, no different then being ambidexterous, autistic or having a high intelligence.
I agree completely...well said
Yeah I am sick of people telling me I can't have multiple wives... after all it's my "chemicals" not me that makes me attracted to so many women... for get my choice to be with one woman I must give into my "chimicals" I was born this way.
@mike in CT: Shock of shocks, mike. I don't actually care if you want multiple wives so long as you treat them well and care for your whole family. You want your own cavalcade of sister wives? Go for it! Just don't use a lame excuse like "polygamy is scary and weird" as a reason to deny the human rights of others. That's just plain wrong.
@mike from CT,
You do understand the differences between polygamy and ho-m-s-exuality, yes? And I would argue that most of us ARE attracted to multiple partners of whatever gender we are attracted to (or in the case of us Bi-se-xuals, both genders), however SOCIETY dictates currently that the accepted "norm" is one partner per person. It is not an inherent part of us, not genetic, not biologically imperative that we have only one partner.
However, the actual attraction, the physical desire to mate with a partner of a specific gender, is biological and can not be dictated by society (or should not be dictated by society).
You want to have multiple wives? I won't argue. As long as I can have a few wives and a couple husbands as well.
@myweightinwords: oh snap! I can't even handle the one... you want more than one and both genders?! You're not just bi... you're an overachiever.