1.   But in May, a psychiatrist at Columbia University released a study purporting to show that some gays can become heterosexual.

2.   This reflects the continuing, decade-long fight in protestant circles over the issue of gays, as gays become more open and accepted and the churches react.

3.   Today, intolerance of gays has become a political agenda, Brown says, reinforced by religious groups as gays have become more visible and active.

4.   But the government has become increasingly tolerant in recent years, and gays have become more visible in Cuban society.

5.   The issue has been hotly debated in the scientific community and among religious groups, some of which contend gays can become heterosexuals through prayer and counseling.

6.   The school is run by a church that strongly opposes homosexual activity and sponsors ads saying gays can become heterosexual.

7.   But he said further progress needed to be made on the issues of allowing gays to become adoptive parents and discrimination against transsexuals.