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Most mainstream Christian and Jewish leaders and traditions do not
endorse reparative-style therapies. In fact, most religions promote love
and acceptance and work to end discrimination against all people
including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons. While many of the individuals involved in the "ex-gay" movement are
well intentioned, these groups and their beliefs are often tied to, and
exploited by, an extremely conservative political agenda. Close
financial links exist between "ex-gay" groups and major "conservative
Right" political groups, including:
The American Family Association
The Center for Reclaiming America
Minnesota Family Council
The Christian Coalition
Concerned Women for America
Family Research Council,
The National Campaign to Protect Marriage
Focus on the Family
What other beliefs do "ex-gay" groups have about homosexuality?
"Ex-gay" groups believe that homosexuality is a "lifestyle choice," a
set of behaviors, rather than an orientation. "Ex-gay" groups believe
these behaviors are the result of a combination of factors including
poor parenting, inability to develop "healthy" friendships with people
of the same gender, and childhood sexual abuse. These groups believe
that the damage caused by these factors can be undone through reparative
therapy.
What is reparative therapy?
Because reparative therapy assumes that homosexuality is the result
of "faulty learning," an attempt is made to change homosexual behaviors
by "teaching" clients how to interact "non-sexually" with same-gender
people and how to "successfully" relate to potential partners of the
opposite sex. Various kinds of outdated and discredited aversion therapy
as well as conditioning therapy are often used. Some therapy stresses
the "teaching" of proper gender role behaviors to help change sexual
orientation. So, gay identified men may be taught football, and lesbians
how to put on makeup.
Is there evidence that "ex-gay" groups and/or reparative therapy are
effective?
There is no reliable scientific research to indicate that any change
in sexual orientation has occurred as a result of these programs. There
has never been a study published in a peer-reviewed journal supporting
these efforts. Professional peer review is standard for all scientific
research and proposed care. Reports of change come only from the
"ex-gay" leadership and the practitioners of reparative therapy.
Could such
credible opposition be wrong?
"Ex-gay" programs have been denounced by every respected medical and
mental health care organization and child welfare agency in America,
including:
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Medical Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
National Academy of Social Workers
National Education Association
American Counseling Association
World Health Organization
Council on Child and Adolescent Health.
Are "ex-gay" groups
harmful?
According to Phyllis Hart, an evangelical psychotherapist and former
seminary professor, these movements have a "lethal—or nearly lethal
effect on sensitive, deeply spiritual gay Christians who have spent the
better part of their lives trying to be heterosexual, in a vain attempt
to become something they could not." Survivors of the "ex-gay" movement
are often "shells of the people they could have become if they would
have accepted their gay orientation years before."
Michael Bussey and Gary Cooper, co-founders of the "ex-gay" ministry,
Exodus International, reported that "ex-gay" programs reinforce feelings
of guilt and failure in their participants. After they accepted their
gay identity and their love for each other, they denounced the
organization they helped to create as fraudulent and indicated that many
of their clients become profoundly depressed and entertained thoughts of
suicide when they found themselves unable to change their sexual
orientation. They also stated that in their personal experience "not one
person was healed" of homosexuality.
Who are
the prominent "ex-gay" groups?
Exodus International is an umbrella organization that claims it has
75-110 affiliate groups throughout the country. Most indicate their
affiliation in their literature. Courage is a Roman Catholic group that
promotes celibacy for homosexuals. Evergreen International is a Mormon
(Latter Day Saints) treatment program. Homosexuals Anonymous is a
non-denominational program with a 14-step program. Love in Action is a
rigidly fundamentalist residency program. P-FOX (Parents and Friends of
Ex-Gays) is allied with The Family Research Council, a group heavily
involved in right-wing politics. Transforming Congregations is comprised
of 40 church congregations, mostly United Methodist, that have
ministries designed to help gay and lesbian people to become
heterosexual. In Minnesota the active "ex-gay" groups are Eagles' Wings
Ministry, Keys Ministry, Keys Fellowship, and Outpost. Some of these
local groups are actively supported by the Minnesota Family Council.
The main secular organization promoting the notion that gay people
can "change" is NARTH. (The National Association for Research and
Therapy of Homosexuality) Because NARTH has an aura of scientific
credibility, journalists and opinion leaders sometimes cite its research
as legitimate. NARTH begins with the presumption that homosexuality is a
developmental disorder or mental illness which it often compares to
alcoholism.
Quotes About
The "Ex-Gay" Movement:
- "The reality is that homosexuality is
not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable."
American Psychological Association 1998
- "Clinical experience suggests that any
person who seeks conversion therapy may be doing so because of social
bias that has resulted in internalized homophobia, and that gay men
and lesbians who have accepted their sexual orientation positively are
better adjusted than those who have not done so." American
Psychiatric Association, 1994
- "Confusion about sexual orientation is
not unusual during adolescence. Counseling may be helpful for young
people who are uncertain about their sexual orientation or for those
who are uncertain about how to express their sexuality and might
profit from an attempt at clarification through a counseling or
psychotherapeutic initiative. Therapy directed at specifically
changing sexual orientation is contra-indicated, since it can provoke
guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving
changes in orientation." American Academy of Pediatrics, 1993
- "The potential risks of "reparative" or
"conversion" therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self
destructive behavior." American Psychiatric Association, 1994
- "The psychosocial problems of gay and
lesbian adolescents are primarily the result of societal stigma,
hostility, hatred and isolation." American Academy of Pediatrics,
1993
- "Too many people have gone down the change therapy road only to
experience even greater pain than when they first came out as gay or
lesbian. The groups supporting a change campaign instead of helping
people live integrated lives are hurting women and men who have
struggled, in some cases for years, to integrate their sexual
orientation with their faith. To say that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals
and transgender persons cannot have a relationship with God is
misleading and destructive. To say that homosexuality is a sin is
wrong. Dignity/USA President Robert F. Miailovich, 1998
Helpful Talking Points:
- Pluralism and tolerance are core
American values. "Ex-gay" movements promote intolerance when they
portray homosexuality as an evil sickness in need of a "cure."
- Even if sexual orientation were a
choice, it cannot be grounds for the denial of the basic human rights
of justice, equality, life, and liberty that are guaranteed in the
foundational documents of the United States of America.
- "Ex-gay" groups do not get at the heart
of the unhappiness that some gay and lesbian people feel, an
unhappiness that results from the messages of rejection spoken in many
U.S. churches, communities and families.
- "Ex-gay" ministries are being supported
and used by right-wing political groups to promote an
ultra-conservative, sectarian agenda that aims to destroy the
important wall of separation between church and state.
- "Ex-gay" groups mix mental health,
religion and politics in very misleading ways. "Ex-gay" leaders are
often untrained and unlicensed in counseling, social work, or therapy
but offer these services.
- The promotion of reparative therapy by "ex-gay" groups adds to the
harassment and violence some youth face because of their actual or
perceived sexual orientation.
Thanks to Jeff Ford, MA. Other materials adapted
from Equality Colorado and Equality Florida. |
