Oh those darn straights proclaiming that gays can change. Some of the organizations advocating 'conversion therapy' include the following methods (no joke): Drinking Gatorade in an effort to make men more masculine, repossessing a client's Calvin Klein underwear because it is deemed "too gay," (sure sounds like sceince to me!), exorcisms, and taking Prozac.

Yeah I'm not joking. They think this "cures" gays. How can there be a cure when there is no illness in the first place? It's absurd. So now the drama...

The American Psychological Association issued a scathing rebuke of the self-proclaimed ex-gay movement today. This admonishment came following a demonstration by members of several organizations that claim homosexuality is a choice that can be cured. (Rumor has it heterosexuality can be cured too... but it's just a rumor.)

A small group of delusional nut jobs representing the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) and Exodus International demonstrated in front of the APA convention in New Orleans Friday.

"While the APA continues to play politics with social issues unrelated to its mission, thousands of current and potential patients are being harmed," said Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, a national 'ex-gay' organization.

They got one thing right--the "ex-gay" movement's current patients and potential 'patients' ARE being harmed by this senseless and destructive so-called therapy.

"We represent those across the country who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction, desire the help of skilled professionals and are instead, being discriminated against because their personal beliefs do not align with that of the APA."

The protestors demanded that the APA change its current position that it has held since 1974, when the APA ceased listing homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Immediately after the protest the APA issued a statement reaffirming its stand.

"For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure," the statement said.

"The APA's concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversion therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish."

The APA statement was hailed by, Truth Wins Out, a group fighting the 'ex-gay' movement and 'conversion therapy':

"Truth Wins Out applauds the APA for taking a strong stand against quack science and not buckling to a transparent PR campaign designed to politically pressure the APA into abandoning reputable and respectable research," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen.

"Conversion therapy is a contrived 'cure' that is nothing more than Scripture cloaked as science and religion masquerading as research."

This entry was posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 at 1:12 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.