“For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA’s concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversation therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish.”
A
Likewise, the APA has decided to “reaffirm unequivocal position against torture and abuse”.
Crazy political activists…
Looks like I was not alone. EXODUS may not have overtly asked for a “reclassification” of homosexuality as an “illness” or “disorder”, but apparently the APA got the same message I did.
They carefully read the press release and deduced that EXODUS and NARTH would indeed like the APA to reverse its official stance. And they didn’t budge. Good for them.
Michael,
Yeah, it seems that they had the same impression that you and Wayne did.
Dan,
Could you provide a link for the APA press release? Thanks.
I am grateful to the APA for standing up to the fundamentalist bullies and reiterating their position that homosexuality is NOT an illness nor a mental disorder. Further I applaud them for stating just how false the notion is that sexual orientation can be changed.
Chalk one up for the reality-based community!!
John, as far as I know the APA issued that statement to the media but I haven’t seen it posted on their website yet. They issued the statement to Wayne at their convention and I recieved my copy from their public affairs office by email.
Advocate article: Standoff between gays and ex-gays at American Psychological Association convention. Gay.com article: Gays, “ex-gays” square off at psychology meetingTruth Wins Our press release: Truth Wins Out Applauds APA for Taking Strong Stand Against Anti-Gay Pseudo-ScienceAssociated Press article on Focus On the Family’s protest: Group protests APA’s stand on homosexuality
The difference between the APA and NARTH is that the APA uses actual studies of gay people. NARTH begins and ends with their religious presuppositions, ignoring the reality of gay peoples’ lives. For them to insist that the APA suddenly adopt their religious beliefs is absurd.
The science is clear. So are the motivations of the Exodus crowd. If they can convince the electorate that being gay is something one can turn on and off like a light switch, there’s no reason to provide legal protections to us. After all, it means being gay is our fault.