The nominee for the position of U.S. Surgeon General is denying that he has anti-gay views. Dr. Thomas Holsinger made the claims during an appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is weighing his nomination by President Bush. In a written statement, Holsinger said, "Questions have been raised about my faith and about my commitment to ensuring the health and welfare of all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans." Holsinger told the committee that "I've worked diligently to provide quality health care to everyone regardless of personal characteristics including sexual orientation."
Gay groups are opposed to Holsinger's nomination and cite a 1991 paper he authored. Titled "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality," the document details anatomically how homosexual intercourse is unnatural. Committee chairman Senator Ted Kennedy said the paper's "misuse of science" was of grave concern to him. Holsinger has been nominated to succeed Dr. Richard Carmona, who has said the Bush administration muzzled him from speaking out on issues such as stem cell research. Carmona said any of his views as surgeon general that differed from the Bush administration's were stifled.
The nominee for the position of U.S. Surgeon General is denying that he has anti-gay views. Dr. Thomas Holsinger made the claims during an appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is weighing his nomination by President Bush. In a written statement, Holsinger said, "Questions have been raised about my faith and about my commitment to ensuring the health and welfare of all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans." Holsinger told the committee that "I've worked diligently to provide quality health care to everyone regardless of personal characteristics including sexual orientation." 