NARTH has a recent press release on the documentary film maker David Akinsanya.
A link is given through to the article in The Independent but NARTH makes no mention of the other aspects of Akinsanya’s life that have been described here and here at XGW.
More disturbingly, NARTH categories Akinsanya’s genuine concerns about the environment and techniques of LIA as a mere lack of “religious convictions”. This aspect of the exgay movement — blaming the victim for the lack of success — has long been criticized by other therapists as a prime reason that many exgay participants cycle through self-blame and depression, even leading to suicide. (see Haldeman 1999 as example. PDF format)
The NARTH author is unattributed.
-Grant & Dale
To be fair…
NARTH’s explanation of Akinsaya leaving LIA/R is “He left the program after four days because he realized that he didn’t have the religious convictions needed to continue through Love in Action’s ministry.”
The Independent article is no longer available for free. However, I think that is not an unreasable assessment of the reason Akinsaya himself said that he left LIA/R.
Of course he also said “Even the course organisers, who claim to have been converted, admitted they still struggle with homosexual feelings. They seemed to be in some strange no man’s land.” NARTH forgot to mention that.
To be fair…
Serious question: Why be fair?
NARTHians are nothing but a bunch of religiously-oriented horses’ hind ends?
Why be fair with them?
‘Religious convictions’?? Doesn’t NARTH claims to be a professional secular organization? Heh, not even Carl Vaernet would’ve stooped that low by supporting religious counselors with no formal training.