The real meaning of
"ex-gay"
“Reparative therapy”
is based on an understanding
of homosexuality that
has been rejected by all
the major health and
mental health professions
By the American
Psychiatric Association
An Advocate.com
exclusive posted, August 15, 2005
The following statement from the APA
was provided to The Advocate in response to a request related to the story
“Brainwashed No More” in the August 30, 2005, issue:
The term “reparative therapy” refers to psychotherapy aimed at eliminating
homosexual desires and is used by people who do not think homosexuality is one
variation within human sexual orientation, but rather still believe
homosexuality is a mental disorder.
The most important fact about “reparative therapy,” also sometimes known as
“conversion” therapy, is that it is based on an understanding of homosexuality
that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the
American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the
National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of
Social Workers, together representing more than 477,000 health and mental health
professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental
disorder, and thus there is no need for a “cure.”
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the
American Psychiatric Association and defining the standard of the field, does
not include homosexuality as a mental disorder. All other major health
professional organizations have supported the American Psychiatric Association
in its declassification of homosexuality in 1973 as a mental disorder.
Thus, the idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder, or that the emergence of
same-gender sexual desires among some adolescents is in any way abnormal or
mentally unhealthy, has no support among health and mental health professional
organizations.
Despite the unanimity of the health and mental health professions on the
normality of homosexuality, the idea of “reparative therapy” has recently been
adopted by conservative organizations and aggressively promoted in the media.
Because of this aggressive promotion of “reparative therapy,” a number of the
health and mental health professional organizations have recently issued public
statements about “reparative therapy” as well.
The American Psychological Association, in its Resolution on Appropriate
Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation, which is also endorsed by the
National Association of School Psychologists, states: “The American
Psychological Association opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth
and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation and supports the
dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation, and mental
health, and appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based
in ignorance or unfounded beliefs about sexual orientation.”
As these statements make clear, health and mental health professional
organizations do not support efforts to change young people’s sexual orientation
through “reparative therapy” and have raised serious concerns about its
potential to do harm. Many professional associations are able to provide
helpful information and local contacts to assist school administrators, health
and mental health professionals, educators, teachers, and parents in dealing
with school controversies in their communities.
“Transformational ministry” is a term used to describe the use of religion to
eliminate homosexual desires. While “reparative therapy” relies on secular
approaches, “transformational ministry” takes the approach that “freedom from
homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord.” While there is some diversity within the movement, most
“transformational ministries” adhere to a belief that “upholds heterosexuality
as God’s creative intent for humanity, and subsequently views homosexual
expression as outside God’s will.”
The “transformational ministry” movement, which began in the early 1970s, has
gained more visibility in the media recently through the efforts of Christian
publishers and conservative political organizations.
The most important fact about “transformational ministry” is that its view of
homosexuality is not representative of the views of all people of faith.
Many deeply religious people, and a number of religious congregations and
denominations, are supportive and accepting of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people
and their right to be protected from the discriminatory acts of others.
For example, the following [religious] organizations have endorsed passage of
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit employment
discrimination based on sexual orientation:
* American Ethical Union
* American Friends Service Committee
* American Jewish Committee
* American Jewish Congress
* Church of the Brethren,
* Church Women United
* Dignity/USA
* Episcopal Church
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
* Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America
* The Interfaith Alliance
* Jewish Women International
* National Council of the Churches of Christ USA
* National Council of Jewish Women
* North Georgia United Methodist Conference
* Presbyterian Church (USA)
* Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
* Unitarian Universalist Association
* United Church of Christ
* United Methodist Church
* Women of Reform Judaism
* Young Women’s Christian Association
Although “transformational ministry” promotes the message that religious faith
and acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual sexuality are incompatible, that
message is countered by the large number of outspoken clergy and people of faith
who promote love and acceptance.
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