Inspired by an LA Times article about an upcoming professional convention that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ex-gay “therapies,” CNN’s Situation Room aired an interview this afternoon with Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, and Jack Drescher, distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Correspondent Mary Snow inaccurately states that “Exodus International president Alan Chambers says he has overcome his attraction to men,” while Chambers repeats something that he has said before, albeit not often enough nor among the audiences that most need to hear it: that so-called “change” is not instantaneous.

From the CNN transcript:

For one for someone to simply think that going from straight to gay is like flipping a light switch, that’s something that we want to correct at every turn.

Snow connects Chambers’ elliptical comments about biology to the debate over the roots and causes of sexual orientation. Chambers tells CNN:

Certainly we are body, soul and spirit. And a part of being body I believe is wrapped up in genetics and biology and things that are inborn.

Snow contrasts Chambers’ statement with the opinion of Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America:

There is no credible evidence to suggest that people are born homosexual. In fact, there’s a great deal of evidence that would suggest the exact opposite.

CNN gives neither individual the opportunity to substantiate their views with evidence. Instead of educating viewers about with evidence from recent studies of the roots of sexual orientation, CNN drops the ball by stating simply that the American Psychological Association has set up a task force to examine the question.

Exodus apparently hoped for much more from CNN’s interview: In one of several alerts issued to its supporters this afternoon, Exodus stated:

Tune in tonight when Wolf Blitzer interviews Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, on CNN’s The Situation Room airing between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. EST (sic). Chambers will discuss today’s Los Angeles Times article about the debate over change in homosexuality and the American Psychological Associations’ (sic) new task force on therapy for those desiring the option of change.

Exodus International is calling upon the task force to include options that reflect the religious diversity of its clients and to support an individual’s autonomy and right to self-determination. The APA is revising its decade-old policy on therapy for those desiring the option of change and will submit its recommendations early this year.

If Exodus had some startling revelation to make about biological and social factors contributing to sexual orientation, it isn’t apparent in the CNN coverage, nor in the organization’s statement to supporters.

Categorized in:

Uncategorized

Tagged in:

, , ,