Rights group questions ethics of religious outreach to gay teens

[kweerwolf]

A national gay and lesbian group is accusing several religious organizations of causing homosexual teens long-term harm by offering parents what they call bogus therapies to keep children from becoming gay.

In a report released Thursday in Miami Beach, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute questioned whether the therapies are ethical or effective and said state and federal authorities should provide greater oversight when these programs are aimed at youth.

The report said some Christian-based gay prevention and treatment groups have used the First Amendment protection of religion to avoid sanctions by state health officials regarding counselors who offer therapy without a license.

Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman said officials need to ensure that those offering such therapies are licensed - as opposed to simply being clergy - and that clients and their parents should be informed about the programs' long-term success rates.

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/030206/D8G3NRO8C.shtml