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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1997)
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A change in the APA’s stance on ‘conversion’ therapy draws conservative backlash equal rights advocates’ applause , ▼ Some self-described “former homosexuals” s many people geared up for Labor from Transformation Ex-Gay Ministries, the Day weekend—generally a time to Washington, D.C., affiliate of Exodus Interna relax with loved ones one last time tional—a Seattle-based Christian “change minis before the more bustling autumn sea try” which purports to have more than 6,000 son kicks in—members of the con servative Family Research Council and clients “former in therapy at its 90 locations across the country—were among those who protested at the homosexuals’’ were rallying at the American Psy APA’s headquarters. chological Association’s headquarters in Wash ington, D.C. “It is time to set the APA straight on the subject,” said Anthony Falzarano, Trans The Aug. 28 protest was in response to the formation’s executive director. "There is hope APA’s passage two weeks earlier of a resolution for anyone who wants to recover from homosexu which marked a serious setback to proponents of ality. If I did it, anyone can. This resolution by the so-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapies APA is a death sentence for those who are un intended to change lesbians and gay men into happy being gay.” heterosexuals. “Therapists are going to have to lie to their The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly patients about what it means to be gay,” added at the APA convention in Chicago, asserts that Robert H. Knight, director of cultural studies for there is no sound scientific evidence of the effi cacy of such therapies, which some have com the Family Research Council. “This goes against pared to efforts to make left-handed people right- clinical knowledge and the tradition of profes sional psychological training, not to mention 5,000 handed—they may learn to use their right hands but they still are innately left-handed. years of human experience and the teaching of all major religions. It also interferes with the rights of The measure did not, however, go so far as to condemn the therapies as unethical—which was parents.” the gist of resolutions defeated by the APA and He added, ‘The presence here at APA head the American Psychiatric As quarters of former homosexu sociation two years ago. als is a powerful witness for The resolution does strongly the truth that gays can change, reaffirm that homosexuality is that they deserve the right to not a mental illness (the APA change, and that nobody has declassified homosexuality as the right to stand in their way.” a mental illness in 1973) and ■ • Reaction from national gay that psychologists must not and lesbian groups was mixed. “participate in or condone dis Kim Mills, a spokesperson crim inatory practices with for the Washington, D.C.- sexual minority clients.” In based Human Rights Cam addition, it calls on psycholo paign, says, “This resolution gists to “respect the rights of reaffirms the fact that since individuals, including sexual there is nothing wrong with minority clients, to privacy, homosexuality, there is no rea confidentiality, self-determina son that gay, lesbian or bi tion and autonomy,” and di sexual people should try to rects psychologists to obtain change their orientations. We appropriate “informed consent” to therapy when stand with the APA in calling for an end to working with sexual minority clients, including discrimination against people based on their sexual minors. orientation.” A ccording to NewsPlanet, “Informed David Smith, HRC’s senior strategist, adds, consent... should include discussion of the poten “These therapies amount to nothing more than tial for a rewarding life as a gay or lesbian person, psychological terrorism and are usually performed consideration of the possibility that such therapy by practitioners [who] are affiliated with extrem may make the client’s problems worse, a state ist religious groups that promote the illusion that ment that there is no solid scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed to further their the therapy is effective, and analysis of the client’s political aims.” motives in desiring to change his/her orientation.” The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Doug Haldeman, president of the APA’s So meanwhile, said the APA resolution didn’t go far ciety for Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay enough because it failed to call for a ban on and Bisexual Issues, says, “Our concern is that a “conversion” therapy. person, especially a young person, who enters “Attempts to change an individual’s sexual into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orienta orientation through these therapies are morally tion should be able to have the expectation that and ethically wrong,” says Kerry Lobel, NGLTF’s such therapy would take place in a professionally executive director. “Such practices are a thera neutral environment, absent of any societal bias. peutic perpetuation of homophobia that exists in Additionally, therapists should be providing cli society today. Equally repugnant are the coercive ents with accurate information about same-sex tactics employed by some psychologists who sexual orientation. This resolution reasserts the attempt to lure clients into treatment in the name profession’s commitment to those two principles.” of pseudo-science.... While some adults may give Rea Carey, director of the National Youth their consent to conversation therapy, many are Advocacy Coalition, adds, “For many young coerced into doing so. people dealing with their sexual orientation, go "The most vulnerable are young people at the ing to an allegedly helpful mental health provider mercy of confused parents or adult guardians turns into a nightmare of inappropriate questions, seeking to ease their own shame or guilt about hospitalization, shock treatment and other ar their child’s sexual orientation,” she continues. chaic measures. All too often, reparative therapy “Allowing conversion treatments to remain a is being pushed on young people who are seeking viable option assures that many will endure po affirming support but are met instead with long tentially costly, painful and traumatic procedures that could increase rather than relieve suffering.” sessions of shame.” A talks about financial s e c u r i t y . .. D o n 't fence me in by Inga Sorensen e v e r y b o d y Why Peso Much? You don't have to travel South of the Border for Great Inexpenseive Legal Services. A Pre-Paid Legal Membership will Protect your Rights. —For only pennies a day— • unlimited access to an attorney • letters and phone calls on your behalf • free will preparation and document review • traffic tickets, lawsuits, IRS protection And much more... ▼ Protects Domestic Partners ▼ Financial planning is a long-term client-advisor relationship built upon two-way communication. By listen ing to you. 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