
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 6, 1994                   TAG: 9409080022
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

NEW STUDY CITES HIGHER GAY FIGURE

Almost one-fifth of Americans have been attracted to someone of the same sex at some time since age 15, according to a new study that has been criticized by some statisticians but touted by gay rights activists.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Center for Health Policy Studies in Washington, found that between 6.2 percent and 20.8 percent of American men and 3.3 percent and 17.8 percent of American women could be considered ``incidentally homosexual.'' The higher numbers are based on reported homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower estimates are based on reported same-sex sexual behavior during the previous five years.

``Our perspective is that sexual orientation isn't just a yes-no, heterosexual-homosexual [question],'' said David Wypij, a Harvard statistician and a co-author of the study. ``I think in most individuals there is some sort of range. You may be more heterosexual, you may be more homosexual.''

Research that might help define the size of the homosexual community plays directly into the debate over extending civil rights protections to this minority. Congress is currently considering legislation that would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Opponents have cited research that they say shows only 1 percent of the population is gay, suggesting that gay people have little political clout.

The study, which was presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings in August and is being published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, is the first national study to look at the question of homosexual attraction.

by CNB