The real meaning of "ex-gay"

[davidinalameda]

http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid19739.asp

The following statement from the APA was provided to The Advocate in response to a request related to the story “Brainwashed No More” in the August 30, 2005, issue:

The term “reparative therapy” refers to psychotherapy aimed at eliminating homosexual desires and is used by people who do not think homosexuality is one variation within human sexual orientation, but rather still believe homosexuality is a mental disorder.

The most important fact about “reparative therapy,” also sometimes known as “conversion” therapy, is that it is based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions.

[sui generis]

1. I'm an extreme skeptic on this even for adults but

if it makes an ADULT happier to believe that they themselves can be saved by jesus or give up munching box (of either style) with prayer and therapy, then so be it. Do what it takes to to make you happy with yourself.

Where I have a problem with it is when someone sends their kid off to be "repaired".

The techniques used aren't always "prayer and therapy", sometimes include aversion therapy, electro convulsion therapy and a host of other horsepiss-injecting-under-the-full-moon therapies. They are inevitably harmful and practiced by adults who think that they can succeed with someone else's child where they failed with themselves, including punishing that kid for failure.

If parents aren't allowed to beat and physically abuse their children they shouldn't be allowed to mentally and emotionally abuse their children either, and these "reparative therapy" groups are doing just that.

[tjwmason]

2. There was a B.B.C. documentary

A chap who had decided that he was gay, and so went to one of these nut-houses. From what I could tell, all that they were doing was making people celibate - given that thousands and thousands of people have been celibate over the years (both gays and straights) that's hardly a massive achievement.

When they start trying to make a person 'straight' - that's seriously screwy faux-psychology. To give an analogy from physical medicine, it like me (who have who medical training beyond the biology G.C.S.E. I took ten years ago), trying to give a person heart by-pass surgery.

I don't think that the results would be pretty.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. I've been celibate since my last girlfriend broke up with me

five years ago.

Does that make me "ex-straight"?

[tjwmason]

7. My point exactly.

It is a complete nonsense to suggest that just because a person doesn't have sex it makes them straight.

But the fundies do see it that way. :banghead:

[BR_Parkway]

9. Depends on which hand you use....ummm........never mind.

[swimmernsecretsea]

8. OK, I'm getting it now.

The object is to disregard whatever anyone LGBT might want to do. The goal is to make them look, act, and pretend to be something they're not. And if they can't bring themselves to act in a sexual way with a member of the opposite sex, just don't have sex at all.

Just one word from me in response. No.

[Deep13]

3. Is there any evidence that this either works or is desireable?

My admittedly limited understanding is that homosexuality is not a disorder and therefore does not need to be cured. Further, my understanding is that it is largely innate and therefore cannot be deprogrammed through purely psychological therapy.

I cannot condone these placebo therapies that do not work but let the patient think he or she is cured for a time. Seems like the practitioner is just preying on a desperate victim. The real issue seems to be to address the irrational shame the homosexual patient has that is causing the desire to be cured.

[Karmakaze]

6. I have no doubt whatsoever that not only doesn't it work - it's dangerous

Consider Catholic priests - they have ALWAYS been celibate in theory and go through all sorts training to remain that way, and yet we have priests abusing children, and the not so well known priests abusing adult parishoners.

Repression of sexual desire does NOT work - period. All it does is force those desires to manifest in more and more anti-social ways.

In my opinion "reparative therapy" or whatever they want to call it is actually psychological abuse and should be banned.

[shireen]

4. = deep denial n/t