More than 250 conservatives are calling on the American Psychological Association to “consider religious diversity” in gay patient therapy.
In a June 29 letter, officials from Focus on the Family, Southern Baptist Convention and other groups said APA officials should instruct psychologists to weigh equally the sexual orientation and religion of patients.
“We strongly believe that psychologists can offer a valuable service if they respect the religious commitments of their clients to the same degree that they respect sexual orientation diversity,” the letter said.
The letter comes as an APA task force begins a review of current scientific research on conversion therapy, or treatment that purports to turn gays straight. A report is due sometime in 2008 or beyond.
Gay rights activists, however, are encouraging the APA to reject Throckmorton’s overture.
Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, an organization that opposes conversion therapy, said the letter advocates “a religious exception to ethical psychology.”
He said although the letter does not mention conversion therapy, it makes a thinly veiled attempt to create a loophole through which such therapy could be advocated.
“The bottom line is your sexual orientation cannot change and your religion can,” Besen said. “This letter fails to address that simple truth.”
Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays Still Offers Cohen As A Public Speaker, Even After Publicly Cutting Ties, Says Truth Wins Out
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A Truth Wins Out investigation revealed today that Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) is still offering disgraced counselor Richard Cohen as one of its primary speakers. This comes after PFOX recently cut ties to Cohen, following embarrassing performances on several national television shows that included the ‘ex-gay’ therapist cursing and belching to show he was now heterosexual.
In the aftermath of a particularly humiliating appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, PFOX scrubbed its website of references to its former board president. PFOX made the move because Cohen’s bizarre techniques were making it increasingly difficult for the organization to accomplish its goal of getting ex-gay materials into public schools. (Read More)
- Focus on the Family’s Ex-Gay Leader Melissa Fryrear, Left -
Focus Reports On Attendance Figures A Day Before Conference Begins, Says TWO
MIAMI BEACH – In an example of yellow journalism that sets a new low for Focus on the Family, the organization “reported” on attendance figures for an ex-gay survivors conference more than 24 hours before the event actually occurred. An entire day before attendees boarded planes for the Irvine symposium, sponsored by SoulForce and Beyond Ex-Gay, Focus editor Jennifer Mesko wrote that “across town [from the Exodus ‘ex-gay’ conference] a counter-conference drew about 100 people.” (Read More)
Charlene Cothran (Venus magazine) and Michael Glatze (Young Gay America magazine editor) were gay niche publishers who discovered that peddling fiction is much juicer (and potentially more profitable) than selling straight news on gay life. The newly minted “ex-gay” stars tell us they have seen the light – unfortunately, it appears to be the spotlight – as they now parade themselves in the Christian media, pawning their terrific tales of transformation. Cothran and Glatze explain that they are simply offering a small snapshot of their new lives, but it sure seems like a full-blown photo shoot.
Interestingly, both Cothran and Glatze found God and renounced homosexuality shortly after they split up from what they once considered their spouses. In a sense, it seems like these break-ups caused nervous breakdowns where the embittered party tried to punish an “ex” by becoming ex-gay. (Read More)
With a gift of $35 to Truth Wins Out, you can receive an autographed copy of "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."
