Reparative therapy
News items: 1998 to 2020

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About reparative therapy:
Religious conservatives have supported reparative therapy for decades, to convert persons with a homosexual or bisexual orientation to heterosexual. Such therapies have also been called "conversion therapy," and "reorientation therapy."
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1998-AUG: "Focus on the Family" Devoted Attention to
Reparative Therapy: James Dobson, host and founder of
"Focus on the Family" led a promotion of reparative therapy
during a three-episode series of their radio program for 1998-AUG-5 to 7.
A representative of NARTH was interviewed.
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1999-JUL: Exodus International conference: Delegates from 131
ex-gay ministries in the U.S. and ministries from 15 foreign countries
attended a conference sponsored by Exodus International in Chicago,
IL. It started on JUL-26. Charisma, a conservative Christian news
service explained that:
"Exodus teaches that 'freedom from
homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus
Christ' and seeks to provide help for 'men and women who desire to
overcome their homosexuality.' A report released by the Associated
Press this week said the organization [Exodus International] recognizes that some homosexuals
cannot change their orientation and thus should practice celibacy." 1
1200 delegates attended -- an increase from 850
in 1998. The meeting was preceded by a major "ex-gay"
advertising campaign by conservative Christian groups.
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2000-APR: PFOX Conference: PFOX is the Parents and Friends
of Ex-Gays. Their annual conference was held in Alexandria VA. One of the
speakers, psychotherapist and author Richard Cohen, said:
"There's a
tremendous amount of misunderstanding surrounding homosexuality. I call it
the mythology about homosexuality...There is no scientific data that
substantiates a genetic or biologic basis for same-sex attraction. Anybody
can change [their sexual orientation]."
Referring to liberal politicians, he commented:
"They
have been enrolled into the mythology that 'people are born this way'
and 'people cannot change.' This is not a political or a civil rights or a
human rights issue. It's a moral issue and an issue of psychology. ... It is
our responsibility as people who believe in hope of healing through
psychology and the responsibility of the religious community to offer hope
and healing to those men and women who wish to change. I don't
call it the gay lifestyle, but the SAD lifestyle, the Same-sex
Attachment Disorder lifestyle. Men are looking for attachment and bonding
with their dads through other men and women are looking for attachment and bonding with their mothers through other women. The problem is, [that] sex doesn't
heal wounds or fulfill unmet primal needs."
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2000-MAY: American Psychiatric Association discussion: A
panel discussion of whether sexual orientation can be altered through
reparative therapy had been scheduled at the APA's conference in
Chicago, IL. Dr. Robert Spitzer, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia
University was scheduled to be the moderator. Two psychiatrists
withdrew from the panel, stating that the topic is too politically
charged to permit scientific discussion. The debate was then
cancelled. According to the APA:
"The doctors who were to debate on the topic decided there was
not enough scientific information to have a proper debate. They felt
that any debate would turn into a political debate and not a true
scientific debate. While there is information on reorientation therapy,
there have been no controlled research studies." 2
Dr.
Spitzer said:
"I think we ought to be able to talk about
anything in a dispassionate way. ... I think they [the
psychiatrists who withdrew] felt that to even debate it was to
legitimize the topic and they felt that since the groups that they
regard as their enemy were kind of salivating over having the debate,
they didn't want it." 3 More details on this study.
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2001-MAY: Study on the effectiveness of reparative therapy: Dr.
Robert Spitzer is a psychiatry professor at Columbia University. He
conducted a study of 143 ex-gays and 57
ex-lesbians who report that they have become "straight" as a
result of reparative therapy. He reported his findings at a meeting of
the American Psychiatric Association on 2001-MAY-9. He
concluded, as a result of 45 minute interviews with each subject, that
66% of the males and 44% of the females had arrived at "good
heterosexual functioning." Many news reports implied that
many subjects in this study became heterosexual as a result of their
therapy. In fact, most reported that they are currently
bisexual. It is not known how many subjects were bisexual when they
entered therapy. Unfortunately, this study is seriously deficient,
because the subjects appear to have been carefully pre-selected by groups
that promote reparative therapy from among their "success" stories. No
attempt was made to select a random group of gays and lesbians who entered
therapy. A meaningful evaluation of reparative
therapy remained a future hope.
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2005-OCT-11: Lou Sheldon suggests exorcism needed to convert
gays: According to Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values
Coalition, Christian therapists believe that only exorcism can
release a person from the homosexual "lifestyle." Exorcisms are used by
conservative Christians, and others, to liberate people from what they
believe are indwelling demonic spirits. Apparently ignoring statements
by the large mental health professional
associations, and referring only to NARTH,
he said that the psychological community regards homosexuality to be a
mental disorder. Sheldon is reported as saying:
"I've talked to many psychotherapists who are Christian, and they
say once you enter into that lifestyle -- Now, you may have gender
identity conflict -- that's the medical-scientific name for
homosexuality -- where you're attracted to the same-sex person, but
once you enter into the culture, into the music, into the gay bars,
into the gay literature, into the gay theater, and all of that kind
of -- and gay travel -- once you immerse yourself into that, you
have really put yourself into a groove that only a sort of an
exorcism can release you from." 4
He appears to be confusing homosexual orientation and gender identity
disorder. 5 The two
are unrelated. Homosexual orientation defines the gender(s) to whom a person is sexually attracted; gender identity defines the gender or genders that a person currently identifies as. One source said that sexual orientation indicates the gender of the person you go to bed WITH; gender identity insicates the gender is the gender of the person you go to bed AS.
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2006-MAR-09: Ex-Ex-Gay claims NARTH official asked him to lie: Daniel Gonzales claims that his therapist, Joeseph Nicolosi of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological
Clinic in Encino, CA and Executive Director/Secretary Treasurer of NARTH
asked him to participate in Robert Spitzer's study of
reparative therapy, but to lie when Spitzer asked him how he had heard
of the study. At that point in his therapy, Gonzales was beginning to
realize that he "didn't need to be cured." He "never took part in
the survey...."
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2006-NOV-16: Scandal involving Ted Haggard reignites discussion of
reparative therapy efficacy: According to the Boston Globe:
"Evangelical leader Ted Haggard, in apologizing for contacts with a
gay prostitute, said he had sought help to combat a 'repulsive and dark'
side of his life -- but no approach had proven effective.
"Even as he pledges to undergo further counseling, Haggard's comments
have rekindled debate over the premise that people can overcome same-sex
attractions through "reparative therapy." It's a concept espoused by
many religious conservatives, and disputed by many mental health
practitioners." 7 More
information.
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2007-FEB-02: Haggard is cured after a few weeks of therapy!: After three weeks of intensive counseling, Haggard left the treatment center.
Rev. Tim Ralph, one of his team of overseers said: "He is completely
heterosexual. That is something he discovered. It was the acting-out situations
where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing." 8 More
information.
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2007-FEB-23: APA plans to review policy on
reparative therapy: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Policy Institute (NGLTF) and Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbian
and Gays (PFLAG) have asked the American Psychological Association to follow the lead of many other mental health professional associations
and review its policy on reparative therapy. Dr. Clinton W. Anderson,
director of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual concerns office at the APA, said
that the groups:
"... came to us and said from their perspective issues related to
reparative therapy are still very important issues that affect the
well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. They said, 'We think it
would be a good idea if you took another look at it'."
Dr. Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of psychology and fellow for
psychology and public policy at Grove City College, said:
"The reasons they recommended it was for political reasons, not for
scientific reasons. They didn't refer to new research, or new studies --
they referred to new policy statements from other groups. ... What we're
talking about is the right of clients who are unhappy with their feeling
[of same-sex attraction]. Those people have the right to seek therapy to
help them live the way they want to live -- the way they value."
He is concerned that if the APA bans its members from engaging in
reparative therapy, then people who want to change their sexual orientation
or behavior will have fewer options.
Editor's note: This will be a judgment call for the APA. One one
hand, there is an enormous amount of anecdotal evidence that reparative
therapy has triggered major depression and suicidal ideation in some
clients. In addition, it is almost completely
ineffective in changing the sexual orientation in adults. Finally, a
person with a homosexual or bisexual orientation will have the same options
for behavioral change available to them even if reparative therapy is no
longer available: Homosexuals can decide to lead a celibate life. Bisexuals
can decide to either lead a celibate life or to confine their relationships
to the opposite sex. 9
The APA selected a task force to consider reparative therapy.
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2007-JUL-17: USA: American Psychological Association review: A six-member task force of the APA held its first
session to review its 10-year-old policy concerning the counseling of gays
and lesbians -- commonly called reparative therapy
and conversion therapy. Gay-positive groups hope that the task force
will conclude that any attempt to change a person's sexual orientation is
futile. Many dozens of conservative religious leaders from groups such as
the Southern Baptist Convention and Focus on the Family have written a joint
letter to the APA expressing concern about homosexuals whose religious faith
condemn same-sex sexual activity. More details.
- Judith M. Glassgold, PsyD, chair of the task force reported that:
"Contrary to claims of sexual orientation change advocates and practitioners, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation. Scientifically rigorous older studies in this area found that sexual orientation was unlikely to change due to efforts designed for this purpose. Contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates, recent research studies do not provide evidence of sexual orientation change as the research methods are inadequate to determine the effectiveness of these interventions.. ... At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions. Yet, these studies did not indicate for whom this was possible, how long it lasted or its long-term mental health effects. Also, this result was much less likely to be true for people who started out only attracted to people of the same sex."
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2009-AUG-05: The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution on reparative therapy: Based on their review of the therapy, they adopted a resolution stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments. The "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts" also advises that parents, guardians, young people and their families avoid sexual orientation treatments that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and instead seek psychotherapy, social support and educational services "that provide accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase family and school support and reduce rejection of sexual minority youth."
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2012-DEC: USA: The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) at the University of Tennessee defined "homosexuality" to include same-sex sexual attraction, and thus include the full range of homosexual and bisexual orientations. Researchers suspected that same-sex attraction may be caused or influenced by epigenetic markers. These are:
"... chemical changes to DNA that affect how genes are expressed, but not the information they contain."
Using an epigenetic text of men's saliva, researchers were able to identify which were gay with an accuracy of 83%. Their concept of the influence of epi-marks as the cause of homosexuality has rapidly attained acceptance among researchers. More details.
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2018-JUL: USA and UK: California and other states in the U.S. have banned the use of reparative therapy to attempt to change clients' sexual orientation. In 2018-JUL, the UK's Government Equalities Office (GEO) announced ia LGBT Action Plan for “improving the lives” of LGBT people. Calvin Freiburger, writing for Life Site News, said: We will bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK, and take further action on hate crime as part of our upcoming refresh of the 2016 Hate Crime Action Plan."
- 2019-APR: MA: Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill into law that made Massachusetts the 17th state/district in the U.S. to ban conversion therapy (a.k.a. reparative therapy and ex-gay therapy) for minors. Such therapy is also banned in more than 50 municipalities for non-adults. 10
- 2019-JUL-18: Life Site News, a conservative evangelical Christian web site, published an article stating that Amazon had stopped selling books that promote reparative therapy. 11 Amazon apparently took this action in response to major U.S. mental health agencies, many state legislatures, and many city councils having taking the position that reparative therapy has had a zero or near zero success rate at changing people's sexual orientation. Also, this form of therapy has been found to contribute often to mental illness among persons with a homosexual or bisexual sexual orientation.
The article is titled: "These books helped thousands quit homosexuality. Amazon just banned them." In reality, Amazon has not banned the books. They have simply decided to not stock them. The books are widely available from other book sellers. Amazon's decision gives reparative therapy web sites and groups a greater opportunity to sell them and raise funds for their cause.
The Life Site News article begins:
"On Amazon, you can buy almost any book written throughout human history -- from the Bible to Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," or even a book glorifying pedophilia. As of last week, however, you cannot get any of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi Sr.'s books about leaving homosexuality — because Amazon just banned them all."
The late Dr. Joseph Nicolosi Sr. (1947 - 2017) was the father of the article's author. He was one of the leading proponent of reparative therapy. See: "If gay doesn't define you,
You Don't Have to be Gay," 12
A petition has been organized to: "Tell Amazon to reverse their decision to censor alternative views on homosexuality." 11, 12

2020-JAN-24: State of Virginia bans some Conversion Therapy:
The Virginia Senate voted to ban counselors, psycholgists. etc. from performing conversion therapy to clients under the age of 18. Eighteen Republican members of the Senate voted agaisnt the bill.
Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, said:
"I think if we looked at 95 percent of it, we could all agree on it. There has been some activity over the past decade that we’d all want to ban. That would include shock therapy and … some odd camping where they took people to camps to do some odd things. But if you happen to be a counselor and happen to be a Christian, you are being told what you can and can’t say." 13
The government also remove a "zombie law" from the state statutes. A zombie law is one that was still on the books, but cannot be enforced. This law banned same-sex marriage and was nullified by a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015-JUN.

Related essays on this web site:

- "Christian Ex-gay ministry hosts Chicago conference,"
Charisma. Online at Maranatha Christian Journal, at: http://www.mcjonline.com/
- APA response copied from a reader's Email
- Stuart Shepard, "Ex-gays protest APA," Focus on
the Family, at: http://www.family.org/
- "Lou Sheldon suggested exorcism is necessary to "release" a person
from homosexual lifestyle," Media Matters, 2005-OCT-13, at:
http://mediamatters.org/
- George Rekers, "Gender Identity Disorder," at:
http://www.leaderu.com/
- Daniel Gonzalez, "Nicolosi Asked Me To Lie To Spitzer - A Consistent
Public Record," ExGayWatch, 2006-MAR-09, at:
http://www.exgaywatch.com/
- David Crary, "Haggard scandal renews sex therapy debate," Associated
Press, 2006-NOV-16, at:
http://www.boston.com/
- "Minister called 'completely heterosexual.' Peer group recommends Ted
Haggard move out of town," Associated Press, 2007-FEB-06, at:
http://news.aol.com/
- Wendy Cloyd, "Gay Pressure Threatens Counseling," CitizenLink, Focus on the
Family, 2007-FEB-23, at:
http://www.citizenlink.org/
- Cindy Myers, via mailing from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, 2019-APR-17.
- Joseph Nicolosi, Jr., "These books helped thousands quit homosexuality. Amazon just banned them," Life Site News, 2019-JUL-11, at: https://www.lifesitenews.com/
- Joseph Nicolosi, Sr., "If gay doesn't define you, You Don't Have to be Gay," Joseph Nicolosi, undated, at: https://www.josephnicolosi.com/
- Amanda Casanova, "Virginia Passes Series of Pro-LGBT Laws, Introduces Bans on Conversion Therapy," Christian Headlines, 2020-JAN-24, at: https://www.christianheadlines.com/

Copyright © 1998 to 2020 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2020-JAN-27
Author: B.A. Robinson

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