Thursday, August 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Religion-Based Bigots Cloak Scripture in the Guise of Science, Says TWOWHAT: Truth Wins Out will hold a press conference to counter a right wing attempt to bully the American Psychological Association into re-labeling homosexuality a mental illness. The anti-gay coalition is staging a
politically-motivated "protest" at the New Orleans convention center on Friday. These groups believe that homosexuality is sinful, and therefore they are attempting to pressure the APA into twisting science so it will correspond to the coalition's fundamentalist beliefs. The main tactic the coalition is using to manipulate the APA is the exploitation of so-called "ex-gays," which are recloseted homosexuals who say they have prayed away the gay.
"This is the subversion of science and a religious racket designed to con Americans into believing that homosexuality is a mental illness," said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. "This coalition is trying to kill the APA messenger because they don't like their science-based message. These ex-gay groups keep no statistics, they produce no peer reviewed studies, most of their top leaders have reverted back to homosexuality and they conveniently disregard scientific evidence that does not conform to their political agenda."
WHO: Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
Other Speakers TBA
WHERE: Outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Friday, August 11
(11 a.m.)
BACKGROUND: In 1974, the American Psychological Association deleted homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. It did so, because it was determined that prejudice instead of proof was responsible for the original diagnosis. There was no evidence to support the notion that gay people were psychologically different from anyone else in society.
Unfortunately, the right wing has launched an unethical and scientifically bankrupt campaign to politically pressure the APA into overruling its respected research. Ironically, the groups that are criticizing the APA use bizarre techniques to "cure" homosexuals. Some of their methods include exorcisms, repossessing a client's Calvin Klein underwear because it is deemed "too gay," taking Prozac and drinking Gatorade in an effort to make men more masculine.
"If the quack science is examined, it is clear that conversion therapy is a cruel hoax that is destroying lives and shattering families," said Besen. "The goal of this right wing coalition is to fool voters into thinking homosexuality is mutable, because polls show that when Americans believe people are born gay, they are more likely to vote in favor of equality."
Truth Wins OUT (TWO) is a non-profit think tank and educational organization that counters right wing disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people.
Please support TWO in its efforts to counter right wing lies in New Orleans. To help CLICK HERE
47 Comments:
The sheer desperation of these people only goes to prove that in spite of the recent marriage equality defeats, we are making gains elsewhere and its only going to get better and these bigots know it. Their obsession with homosexuality is questionable. They need to devote more energy to the limitations of heterosexuality as well as its flaws. That's why we must not give up or settle for anything less than full equality. They delude themselves if they think the APA is going to reverse its opinion, just how desperate can these people get? Nothing but a bunch of losers with nothing else better to do than worry about what we do in our bedrooms, or maybe they are envious?
Robert, NYC.
posted by , at
8/10/2006 8:07 AM
It is symptomatic of severe psychological problems when a subject is unable to distinguish fantasy from reality. The AFA and their allies are enamored of a fantasy world where gays are branded as sinful deviants like so many head of cattle. They are trying to force reality to conform to their delusional fantasy, because to acknowledge the reality around them would call into question their entire belief system. They are obsessed with this to the point of mania. I'm sure the APA will have plenty to say about that kind of diagnosis.
--Johnny in Minneapolis
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:00 AM
"Ex-Gays" are not recloseted Gay people. They are liars. Some of them are also confused bisexual folk. I think we can more effectively counter the claims of wacko groups like AFA if we stop focusing on sexuality the way they do. Because if you were born Gay, you know that it has to do with more than sex. Lesbians and Gay men differ in the way they perceive the world around them, in the way they approach gender, in the way we walk and talk and interact socially, and in various other, more subtle ways. Gay is what you are, not what you do! That's what needs to be stressed.
posted by Stuffed Animal, at
8/10/2006 9:26 AM
Exactly, the APA should convince these loons that they need to address their *own* obsessive-compulsive disorders. Almost one year after Katrina New Orleans is still a big shithole, thanks to the usual neglect of the bush administration. If they were 'real' christians they'd be helping to clean up and rebuild rather than harassing the APA.
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:35 AM
I don't know why the wingnuts are worried about this at all. I'm guessing they are afraid tha some day we will finally have prove that gyas are 'born' gay and that it is not a choice. I guess they fear if that happens, gays might finally be recognized as fully human and be given their civil rights.
But, I have always felt that as soon as we jump through the hoop of proving that "gay' is not a choice, the wingnuts will just raise a new barrier.
All they will do at that point is say 'so what, pedophiles are born that way too and we aren't giving them rights. So, being born that way doesn't make it any less sick or evil'
And, if we ever ifind the 'gay' gene, the wingnuts will just want to find a way to fix (cure) it.
posted by , at
8/10/2006 11:44 AM
The last comment is so true. We may never be done fighting these ignorant heterosexists. I certainly don't expect to see their hateful agenda disappear in my lifetime.
posted by Stuffed Animal, at
8/10/2006 1:43 PM
"a right wing attempt to bully the American Psychological Association into re-labeling homosexuality a mental illness."
Wayne, I'm not sure where you got this. According to their press release, they are seeking to have the APA reverse their statement that reparative therapy is useless and potentially harmful.
Timothy
posted by , at
8/10/2006 2:14 PM
posted by , at
8/10/2006 2:52 PM
That doesnt negate the fact that 'reparative therapy' IS dangerous and ineffective!! You cant 'repair' what was never broken in the first place. Just because someone doesnt like the hand they've been dealt in life, doesnt mean we should give the green light to quacks to try and change it. Someone may not like their brown eyes, but that doesnt mean we should allow someone like Dr. Mengele to inject them with God knows what to try to turn them blue.
B. Queer
posted by , at
8/10/2006 4:07 PM
Nothing stops the client from getting counselling on how to stay celibate, how to deal with depression and isolation that may (or may not) arise from same. Client is counselled on actions, and hopefully encouraged to think of their homosexual feelings as neutral and not as an occasion of guilt.
That's different from getting counselling to turn oneself into a heterosexual. That doesn't work.
NancyP
posted by , at
8/10/2006 4:41 PM
posted by , at
8/10/2006 8:15 PM
posted by , at
8/10/2006 8:16 PM
"I think they say that change is possible but do not gaurantee what or how that change will be."
Bingo. You nailed it. They don't tell what the "change" will be because it isn't an actual change in orientation but a change in religious conversion.
It is a re-identification as a Christian, which therefore (in their dogma) precludes an identity as a gay person. The methods are not so much geared towards a change in orientation as they are towards a "walk with the Lord".
Look at the language used in all the ex-gay ministries (even the word ministry is revealing). "Change" is defined as being a new person in Christ (old things are passed away and all things are become new).
And the APA does not believe that therapy should be used to change religious persuation. In fact, the practice of proseletyzing by a therapist is EXTREMELY unethical.
I have no problem with therapy to help resolve religious dissonance or to assist in self-controlling behaviors. And I'm certainly not opposed to incorporating a person's religious convictions into their therapy.
But those therapists that claim they can take a person with a homosexual orientation and through therapy give them a heterosexual orientation just don't have anything AT ALL to back them up.
And to pretend that you are offering reorientation when you are really offering religious conversion is truly immoral.
Timothy Kincaid
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:13 PM
"I think they say that change is possible but do not gaurantee what or how that change will be."
Bingo. You nailed it. They don't tell what the "change" will be because it isn't an actual change in orientation but a change in religious conversion.
It is a re-identification as a Christian, which therefore (in their dogma) precludes an identity as a gay person. The methods are not so much geared towards a change in orientation as they are towards a "walk with the Lord".
Look at the language used in all the ex-gay ministries (even the word ministry is revealing). "Change" is defined as being a new person in Christ (old things are passed away and all things are become new).
And the APA does not believe that therapy should be used to change religious persuation. In fact, the practice of proseletyzing by a therapist is EXTREMELY unethical.
I have no problem with therapy to help resolve religious dissonance or to assist in self-controlling behaviors. And I'm certainly not opposed to incorporating a person's religious convictions into their therapy.
But those therapists that claim they can take a person with a homosexual orientation and through therapy give them a heterosexual orientation just don't have anything AT ALL to back them up.
And to pretend that you are offering reorientation when you are really offering religious conversion is truly immoral.
Timothy Kincaidorientation when you are really offering religious conversion is truly immoral.
Timothy Kincaid
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:17 PM
I've never seen a secular "reparative therapy." It is always tied to religious beliefs. This includes Joseph Nicolosi, who is affiliated with Catholic ultra-conservatives.
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:53 PM
Ditto re Richard Cohen who is a "brother in Christ."
What I'm waiting for is an entirely secular, entirely apolitical psychologist who offers a therapy that makes gay people straight.
posted by , at
8/10/2006 9:57 PM
That would be nice.
posted by , at
8/11/2006 2:30 AM
Many state constitutions make it quite clear that every man is entitled to worship according to his own conscience. If this is more religious conversion than real therapy, I certainly wonder why someone doesn't start dragging these "counselors" into court.
As for the idea that if someone is dealing with their issues involving sexuality, then THAT is how it should be presented in counseling - not dealing with issues of HOMOsexuality. It's sexuality, period. Not two different methods - one for hetero therapy and one for homo-therapy. And since I think the psychologists have been dealing with personal issues involving sexuality with clients for years, I fail to see why these "ex-gay-for-pay" ministries or NARTH has any real place in the treatment. Since it is often found that part of the issue involving sexuality is the influence of indoctrinated (note - NOT INBORN) "religious" feelings, I would think a religiously-affiliated organization would be the LAST place to seek assistance with sexuality issues.
I think the innate deception of these groups should be enough to ruin their credibility, but like every other right wing "Christian" organization, they don't view credibility with any importance. It's just a 21st century version of a traveling sideshow.
posted by , at
8/11/2006 4:23 AM
posted by , at
8/11/2006 12:14 PM
"If a person wants counseling on how to stay away from homosexuality then they should be allowed to get it . . . Many women are 10 pounds overwieght and a whole industry charges a shit load of money to counsel them on their overeating habits."
How dare you compare having an eating disorder with being Lesbian or Gay? That is highly offensive. I don't allow anyone to pull that "addiction = homosexuality" crap with me.
posted by Stuffed Animal, at
8/11/2006 2:01 PM
posted by , at
8/11/2006 4:11 PM
"Oh shit! Stuffed animal I was not comparing homosexuality to addiction. I was saying that people go and get "help' for all sorts of stupid things. Do you really think 10 pounds is an eating addiction?! NO! Quit twisting my words."
Your words are twisted enough, I don't want or need to twist them. Your whole premise was wrong. The basis of your comparison was wrong. Perceiving oneself overweight and perceiving one's sexuality as shameful and sinful, no way is that the same thing, and you know it! "Stay away from homosexuality" . . . doesn't that imply an addiction of some kind? Doesn't it? Damn right it does! Have the honesty to own up to what you were implying. And if you don't know enough about what a Gay person is than to make such asinine comparisions, stop making an ass out of yourself by talking about them! There's too much ignorance being spread about us in the media already, we sure as hell don't need any more from you.
posted by Stuffed Animal, at
8/11/2006 6:14 PM
posted by , at
8/11/2006 9:39 PM
The problem with the whole thing is as b queer said, the assumption that something needs to be fixed. If a man who was born with no legs walked into a therapists office, the therapist would help him cope with having no legs, not tell him to imagine that he had them. It is the same thing with gay people. If we go to a shrink looking for help, we should never be told we need to try to become something we are not.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/11/2006 11:27 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 12:37 AM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 12:46 AM
"I was trying to say that where there is no problem people still will seek professional help to solve the "non" problem."
That is NOT what you said. You stated: "If a person wants counseling on how to stay away from homosexuality then they should be allowed to get it." Which implies an addiction of some kind, not a "non-problem." It also implies that there's nothing wrong with letting Gay people be victimized by quacks. The last I heard, false advertising and treating people without the proper qualifications was against the law. You are either being dishonest about your intent, or you have failed to properly phrase what you're trying to say. As for your additional comments, there is no religion I know of whose scripture advises that people "seek treatment for homosexuality." Nor am I aware of any scripture that identifies homosexual orientation as an illness. It's not religion that makes people go into ex-Gay programs, it's bigotry disguised as religion . . . so once again, you have put forth a flawed analysis. It's worth saying again: Homosexual is what you are, it is NOT what you do. If you feel conflicted or ashamed about your sexual habits, you have the option of choosing celibacy, and you don't need to "seek treatment" in order to do that. There is absolutely no justification for consulting sexual orientation "therapists," and no justification for allowing such people to practice their quackery. And they are definitely NOT professionals, because their "profession" is held in general disrepute.
posted by Stuffed Animal, at
8/12/2006 12:47 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 1:29 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 1:33 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 1:36 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 1:45 PM
the thing is, though, that most people who seek counciling to become hetero do so because someone else wants them to do so. Either their family or their friends or their religion has told them that they are unworthy as they are and should be corrected. This can't be healthy. It just can't. And we can say all we want that people have a right to try change if they so desire, but for most the cost is too great. Failure is too high and it leaves them feeling worse than when they started. I think a valid therapist would help him or her accept life as it is. One doesn't have to have sex to be homosexual, but one has to understand his or her true nature. Celibacy is fine. Marrying a person just to be married to an opposite gender individual isn't. It's hurtful and sad to all parties concerned.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/12/2006 10:02 PM
I don't think that stuffed animal is at all confused or upset about what he is. I just think he's been too often ridiculed and chastised for it. He's striking back. Many of us do at some point.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/12/2006 10:22 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 11:12 PM
posted by , at
8/12/2006 11:17 PM
Timothy:
Please wake up and smell the coffee. If you would read beyond the press release and read Nicolosi's book and the founding charter of NARTH you would have a clue.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/13/2006 1:19 AM
posted by , at
8/13/2006 1:31 PM
posted by , at
8/15/2006 4:37 PM
well, statistically speaking, statistics are bullshit. It's all in the way the interviewer asks the questions. Furthermore, I think wayne has done a lot of research on the subject of "ex-gays". I think it's something he's focused his life on.
I shudder at the number of people who are harmed by this so-called therapy. Gay men and women need to know that someone is on their side. Gay men and women of faith need to know that God is on their side.
Keep up the good work, Wayne
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