Tuesday, August 11, 2009

APA calls 'BS' on gay-to-straight therapy  

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Google "gay to straight therapy" right now, and you'll see dozens of news articles about the American Psychological Association publicly rejecting any "therapy" that tries to turn gay people straight. This news is coming at a good time, since that horrendous "exorcism" video surfaced a little over a month ago. From Yahoo! News:

In a resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA's governing council, and in a comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called "reparative therapy" which seeks to change sexual orientation.

No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the report, and some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

Though it seems obvious to me that brainwashing people into becoming something that they weren't meant to be will cause negative psychological effects, there is still an entire group of religious fanatics that cling to the idea that this "conversion" therapy is not bullshit. Mind-blowing.

I still think these people will ignore the evidence and continue to subject victims to these traumatizing programs (remember when the APA repudiated Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome? And yet I was handed a pamphlet for it at a CPC last year) but these statements from the APA couldn't hurt. It certainly is damning evidence in favor of conversion therapy being complete and total BS (see: "But I'm a Cheerleader").

If you or someone you know has been a victim of gay-to-straight therapy, you can visit Beyond Ex-Gay for support from a loving and accepting community.

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1 comments: to “ APA calls 'BS' on gay-to-straight therapy


  • February 22, 2010 at 11:30 PM  

    My sister is gay and she would do anything to change that. And she has tried. She cannot change who she is and nor can a gay to straight therapy session. She is unable to love herself or except the fact the she is gay because everyone around is telling her it is wrong to have feelings for people that are the same gender. I am happy that the APA released this and is now saying that there is no evidence that someone can be changed from being gay to being straight. My hope is that this will help to change the minds of people how believe being gay is a life style choice rather then implanted in you.