Comments on: APA ‘Ex-Gay’ Panel: ‘A Really Bad Idea’

By: Henry Hall

Henry Hall — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:19:58 +0000

Wayne Besen writes: “Since 1973, the once dreaded American Psychiatric Association has become an ally of gay and lesbian equality. They have consistently withstood outside pressure from right wing organizations and instead chose to do what was in the best interest of GLBT mental health.”

Er, excuse me, even if we assume, arguendo that they have done what is best for gay and lesbian rights, they have most assuredly NOT “[done] what was in the best interest of GLBT mental health.” Perhaps the term is supposed to have a silent T? Perhaps T-folks just don’t count?

The American Psychiatric Association has consistently been nothing less than horrid and cruel to T people, tarring them with fictional mental illnesses. There just isn’t any way round the fact that this APA has been despicable as to transsexual/transgender people. They stir up hatred at every turn and bring psychiatry into disrepute. Tactics worthy of Oliver C. Wenger, I do not exaggerate. They really are that bad.

By: Truth Wins Out - Bitter Throckmorton Continues ‘Sour Grapes Media’ Tour By Trashing TWO in Fringe Right Wing Media

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:12:40 +0000

[…] Psychiatric Association’s cancellation of the “Quack Panel” he was scheduled to appear on this week, notorious “ex-gay” therapist Warren Throckmorton continued on his vindictive […]

By: Truth Wins Out - Gay City News: Junk Science On Stage

Truth Wins Out - Gay City News: Junk Science On Stage — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:07:27 +0000

[…] The symposium, moderated by Harvard psychiatrist Dr. John Peteet, who chairs APA’s Corresponding Committee on Psychiatry, Religion and Spirituality, is titled “Homosexuality and Therapy: The Religious Dimension.” Indeed, the panel includes two prominent religious figures from radically different perspectives - New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson and the Reverend Dr. Albert Mohler. Robinson came to nationwide attention in 2003 when he became the first non-celibate, out gay person elected an American Episcopal Church bishop, for the Diocese of New Hampshire. […]

By: David Skidmore

David Skidmore — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:27:05 +0000

So Throckmorton thinks homosexuality is like smoking? What about if you love sucking on a red-hot, smoking homosexual like I do?

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:15:43 +0000

Henry Trout is right, right, right!

By: Clint Trout

Clint Trout — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:45:51 +0000

Dear Dr. Scasta:

As a survivor of 13 years of the closet and 5 years in
an ex-gay ministry, I was disturbed to read Wayne
Besen’s account of the upcoming symposium featuring
Warren Throckmorton. Until there is anything
approaching valid and replicable data for the ex-gay
cultists to present, there is no appropriate forum for
them in scientific or clinical discussions. For this
reason I dispute that you can have a “scientifically
and rationally based” discussion with Throckmorton on
the panel. All of the scientific data we have is
clear, there is no “common ground” to be found between
those who recommend gay people to change through quack
therapy and those who seek to relieve the tremendous
social shame and guilt forced on clients by the
dominant culture, of which the ex-gay movement
represents an extreme. For many of us who still have
nightmares, that the science is on our side is quite a
comfort. While I’m sure the idea of a forum including
an ex-gay therapist might seem interesting and
provocative, I think it would be better for the
Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists to focus
on scientificaly rigorous data. Since Throckmorton
cannot provide any, giving him another forum to air
his unsubstantiated ideas denigrates the
organizations’ historic committment to science-based
therapies.

Clinton Henry Trout, MPH
Candidate for Doctor of Public Health
Boston University