Ex-gays picket the APA to show that men and women do not have to live with same-sex attractions.
Posted on 09/06/2006 7:58:03 AM PDT by scripter
Surrounded by President-Elect Sharon Stephens Brehm, CEO Norman Anderson and other prominent members of the American Psychological Association (APA), President Gerald P. Koocher voiced support for the treatment of those distressed by unwanted homosexual attractions.
In a Town Hall Meeting dedicated to open exchange between members and APA leaders, Dr. Koocher fielded a question from NARTH President Joseph Nicolosi about APA's position on the treatment of unwanted homosexuality.
Highlighting the importance of client autonomy and self-determination, Dr. Koocher stated, "APA has no conflict with psychologists who help those distressed by unwanted homosexual attraction."
Ex-gays picket the APA to show that men and women do not have to live with same-sex attractions. |
He emphasized that --
1. The choice to enter therapy to diminish homosexual attractions and to strengthen heterosexual potential must be respected.
2. The choice to enter therapy must be voluntary and not coerced in any way.
3. Treatment options must be discussed by the therapist.
4. Treatment goals must be mutually agreed upon.
5. The "iterative process" must be a part of therapy. That is, client choice regarding treatment goals must be reiterated throughout the treatment process.
In response to a follow-up question by Dr. Nicolosi about the lack of clarity in APA's statements and positions, Dr. Koocher clearly emphasized that providing psychological care to those distressed by unwanted homosexual attractions was well within APA's Code of Ethics, and he invited Dr. Nicolosi to submit his recommendations for further clarifications to APA.
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 Protesters Greet APA Conference attendees as they arrive in buses. |
A significant number of NARTH members were in attendance at the APA conference, including Scientific Advisory Board and Governing Board members, and several of those NARTH leaders posed questions to Dr. Koocher at the public meeting.
Dr. Ned Stringham, also a member of NARTH's SAC, followed with a question about the lack of socio-political diversity in the APA. He cited the evidence from an article published in the American Psychologist by Dr. Richard E. Redding. Koocher indicated that he was preparing an article for publication in the APA Monitor that would address the issue.
Dr. A. Dean Byrd, Chair of NARTH's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), raised his hand to question Dr. Koocher about the serious charges leveled at the APA in the recent book Destructive Trends in Mental Health, edited by Drs. Wright and Cummings, longtime prominent members of APA.
Dr. Byrd noted that in a symposium earlier that day, Dr. Nicholas Cummings, Dr. Bonnie Strickland and Dr. Frank Farley (all former APA presidents) had raised serious concerns about APA's misrepresentation of science to the American public. They had specifically focused on the "corrosive effects of the socio-political ideologies" in the APA, the "liberal biases" in the APA, and had characterized the organization "a politically correct profession, with crowd control by the thought police."
 Protestors at the APA Convention voice support for NARTH's petition and tell psychologists that they have successfully changed. |
Dr. Koocher elected not to respond to the issues raised in the Wright and Cummings book, but rather chose to focus on the publisher--dismissing the book as having been produced by a "vanity press." Koocher indicated that he had contacted the publisher (Routledge) to inquire about who paid for the publishing of the book. He also wanted to know how the book was being distributed, but he received no response.
Another NARTH SAC member, Dr. David Blakeslee, raised his hand to thank APA leaders for holding the open meeting, and emphasized the importance of psychologists' respecting client's values that are associated with their faith traditions. Koocher was supportive of Dr. Blakeslee's comments and noted that religion was a legitimate part of diversity.
The Town Meeting exchange occurred the day after over 50 ex-gays had protested outside the APA convention. The protesters respectfully greeted convention-goers as they exited the buses at the conference hall with signs such as "Change is Possible," "APA, we need your support," "It's Okay Not To Be Gay," and "Diversity Includes Us." More than 500 copies of NARTH's petition to APA were individually distributed to the psychologists entering the convention.
"Overall, the response to the protestors and the petition was overwhelmingly positive," said NARTH's Dr. A. Dean Byrd. A psychologist attending the convention from New York City, Dr. Norma J. Hart, talked with the protestors and read the petition, with which she said she was in full agreement. She was interviewed by WDSU-TV Channel 6 in New Orleans, and in her on-air TV appearance, she spoke very favorably of the petition and the protestors, and emphasized the importance of the right to choose.
"Almost all of the psychologists to whom we showed the petition," said NARTH President Joseph Nicolosi, "were surprised and disturbed to hear that the APA would in any way restrict therapy aimed at decreasing unwanted homosexuality and developing heterosexual potential."
"I personally spoke to at least twenty students and thirty psychologists," said Dr. Dean Byrd, "and all were in disbelief that there could any problem with APA protecting the rights of clients who want to diminish their unwanted homosexuality." Other NARTH Board members reported a similar experience as they fanned out throughout the conference to speak to dozens of individual attendees.
Throughout the conference, attendees could be seen talking to NARTH members and reading the petition. Many were referred to the NARTH web site for further information.
"This is a historic step for client autonomy and self-determination," noted Dr. Byrd. "Dr. Koocher's statements were clear and unambiguous in support of the rights of those who are distressed by their unwanted homosexual attraction. In fact, the message conveyed by Dr. Koocher today is identical to NARTH's mission statement. I hope that APA and NARTH can now begin a fruitful dialogue about this very important issue."
As an APA member for 17 years, I am surprised they took a thoughtful stand on this issue. The leadership is usually pretty far left and makes decisions that are more political than scientific in nature.
The decision indicates that ethics trumped politics in this instance. If a client wishes to work on not being homosexual, it would be unethical to refuse treatment or to refuse to refer the person to a therapist with that specialty.
There you go. It is revolutionary!
And the dude is all worried about who paid for/printed the book, not its CONTENTS!
The book, Destructive Trends in Mental Health is quite informative. Everybody should read the reviews at Amazon.
And many can say: "It's about time." This is a welcome change in direction.
Have you had a chance to read Destructive Trends in Mental Health? The reviews at Amazon are quite interesting. I have the book but haven't yet finished reading it.
I'll check it out, thanks. I remember reading about it on FR but forgot to follow up, like so many things.
Thanks for the reference. I read the reviews and it sounds like a good resource. However, I am so fed up with APA politics and the disingenuousness of psychology activists, that rehashing it just makes me angry.
I make it a point not to engage other psychologists in political discussions. It can only rupture relationships when you realize that someone is completely brainwashed or intellectually dishonest.
Gays are very very threatened by the ex-gay movement. This is a good sign.
Its not revolutionary... it basically puts the Psychological establisments view on treating homosexuality BACK where it was in the 1970s and prior.
Its a step in the right direction, but its not a revolution.... more of a recognition of reality if you asked me.
"Its not revolutionary... it basically puts the Psychological establisments view on treating homosexuality BACK where it was in the 1970s and prior."
Not really. Back before DSM IV, all homosexuals were considered to be in need of treatment. All the APA has said here is that those who are in distress about their sexuality should be able to receive treatment of a type with which they agree. It is very different from the APA saying that homosexuals are mentally ill and all need treatment.
True, they are saying if you don't want treatment we won't force it on you.... but then again, with the exception of Nazi Germany, I don't recall homosexuals being rounded up and put in re-education camps.
Indeed it is. The sad part in all this are the folks (homosexual and heterosexual) who will continue to deny change is possible. This is a great start!
I understand your point. While both are recognizing reality, for years we've been told just the opposite. And as one in the trenches in this debate, anything from the APA that supports what I've been saying for years seems revolutionary. Spitzer's comments that gays can change seemed revolutionary at the time as well.
"Dr. A. Dean Byrd, Chair of NARTH's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), raised his hand to question Dr. Koocher about the serious charges leveled at the APA in the recent book Destructive Trends in Mental Health, edited by Drs. Wright and Cummings, longtime prominent members of APA.
Dr. Byrd noted that in a symposium earlier that day, Dr. Nicholas Cummings, Dr. Bonnie Strickland and Dr. Frank Farley (all former APA presidents) had raised serious concerns about APA's misrepresentation of science to the American public. They had specifically focused on the "corrosive effects of the socio-political ideologies" in the APA, the "liberal biases" in the APA, and had characterized the organization "a politically correct profession, with crowd control by the thought police."
Dr. Koocher elected not to respond to the issues raised in the Wright and Cummings book, but rather chose to focus on the publisher--dismissing the book as having been produced by a "vanity press..."
It's no surprise that Koocher elected not to respond to the charges of "liberal biases" in the APA. These charges have been ignored for years, as documented here and here. In the first reference, you'll note that these charges were made by APA members in APA publications, not some "vanity press."
See also:
Minnesota Psychologist Taken to Task for Saying Homosexuals Can Change.
It sounds like some positive steps were achieved.
Don't take this personally, but I believe your source is incorrect. For your source to be correct then the entire NARTH article would be a complete fabrication. What is your source?
No doubt! The book Destructive Trends in Mental Health is quite revealing, and it's written by liberal members of the APA.
One step at a time... The growing numbers of ex-gays is getting more and more attention and is gaining momentum.
I don't think that anyone disagrees with the idea that people can change, because we know that straight people become gay and lesbian — so it seems totally reasonable that some gay and lesbian people would become straight. SourceIt would appear Dr. Clinton Anderson speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
Dr. Clinton Anderson went on to say that while change is possible, it doesn't happen inside the therapeutic office. That's a ridiculous statement. Here's Dr. Nicolosi's response:
People grow and change as a result of life experience, especially personal relations. Clearly, Mr. Anderson has made a false and misleading distinction.Having read the entire story, I concur. So your source engages in tactics we might see coming from a homosexual activist.
He be gone. But he can still read!
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