Bush surgeon general nominee denies he's anti-gay

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's surgeon general nominee disputed critics' claims that he holds "anti-gay" views and told senators on Thursday he would quit before bowing to political interference in his job.

"I can only say that I have a deep, deep appreciation for the essential humanity of everyone, regardless of their personal circumstances or their sexual orientation," Dr. James Holsinger testified during his two-hour confirmation hearing.

Holsinger also said he favors banning drug companies from advertising prescription medications on television, saying it puts undue pressure on doctors to prescribe particular pills.

He also said he would support banning TV, and radio and newspaper advertising of "junk food" aimed at children.

Holsinger, chosen by Bush in May to be the nation's top doctor, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which considers his nomination before any vote by the full Senate.

Just two days earlier, the first surgeon general appointed by Bush, Dr. Richard Carmona, accused the administration of preventing him from speaking out on stem cell research and other controversial issues, censoring speeches and blocking reports on ideological and political grounds.

Gay rights groups oppose Holsinger, citing a 1991 document he wrote titled "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality."

Written to a United Methodist Church panel studying homosexuality, Holsinger offered exhaustive anatomical details to describe anal sex as unnatural.

"Questions have been raised about my faith and about my commitment to the health and well-being of all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans," Holsinger told senators.

Holsinger said he was deeply troubled by these allegations, saying they do not "represent who I am, what I believe, or how I have practiced medicine for the past 40 years."

CHERRY PICKING

But Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, the committee's chairman, said, "Dr. Holsinger's paper cherry-picks and misuses data to support his thesis that homosexuality is unhealthy and unnatural."

"I did not attempt to write a definitive scientific paper," Holsinger responded, admitting its contents were now outdated.

Saying Holsinger would focus on childhood obesity, Bush nominated him on May 24 to replace Carmona, who ended a four-year stint last year without a replacement named.

Holsinger testified he would resign if political appointees within the administration tried to force him not to release a report he felt was important or take a position that was morally or scientifically wrong.