In case you are not familiar with the APA, it's the American Psychological Association. As reported on CNN.com, the APA has concluded after a two year study and review of 87 other studies since 1960 that "there is little evidence that efforts to change a person's sexual orientation from gay or lesbian to heterosexual are effective."If the "Family Values" groups haven't picked up on this story, I suspect that there will be a flurry of Press Releases over the next few days. Put simply, scare straight programs and guilt tripping people for being wired differently than "normal" people does more harm than good and THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING GAY. But, this is going to be hard for evangelicals and other conservative groups to swallow.
According to Judith Glassgold, chairwoman of the APA task force:
"Contrary to claims of sexual orientation change advocates and practitioners,
there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological
interventions to change sexual orientation."
The APA's governing Council of Representatives passed a resolution urging the mental health community and professionals not to recommend that therapy or any other methods can change their sexual orientation.
"The task force noted that some people attempt to change their sexual
orientation because it conflicts with their religious beliefs, and recommended
that their mental health care providers help them 'explore possible life
paths that address the reality of their sexual orientation, reduce the stigma
associated with homosexuality, respect their client's religious beliefs,
and consider possibilities for a religiously and spiritually meaningful and
rewarding life.'"
Again, for those out there that exclusively subscribe to Creationism and that anything other than heterosexual orientation and a man-woman relationship is outside of the "mainstream," they will still find justification to marginalize and openly discriminate against "those people" that aren't like them.
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