So Much For That: Gay Conversions Don't Work
The APA says attempts to convert homosexuals aren't effective and may hurt people.
Remember a while back when the crazy church in Connecticut exorcised a gay demon from a teen, and then put a video of it online and was surprised when those in the general public weren't fans of the practice?
Well, apparently they need to read the latest research from the American Psychological Association. CNN reports the APA just released a massive 138-page report, which investigated 87 peer-reviewed studies, and found that conversion therapy for gays and lesbians is not only ineffective, it has potential to harm the individual. True Blood Is Anti-Gay?
Judith M. Glassglod, who headed up the research, said:
At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions. Yet, these studies did not indicate for whom this was possible, how long it lasted or its long-term mental health effects. Also, this result was much less likely to be true for people who started out only attracted to people of the same sex.
The research panel looked at cases from 1960 to 2000 and found serious methodical problems with programs geared at converting gays to be straight. It also said that any "high-quality" evidence that did exist showed that the likelihood of an individual changing their sexual orientation was uncommon.
And, gay demons aside, the research found that trying to change sexual orientation could cause emotional distress including a loss of sexual feeling, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
While many seek to change their orientation to adhere with religious practices, the APA suggests therapists have frank discussions with patients about the slim possibility of changing sexual orientation and help them bridge the gap between their orientation and religious beliefs. Cho: "God Is Happy You Are Gay"
One advocate for conversion therapy, Alan Chambers told CNN that conversation therapy can work—as it did for him. He currently leads Exodus International, which sponsors support groups for homosexuals looking to change their orientation. He even wrote a book, Leaving Homosexuality, about his success with the program.
Chambers points out that only about a third of the program's participants successfully converted, however. And while, our math may be a little hazy, that means the treatment has a 66 percent fail rate. Not great odds.
Discussion
I'd like to know if Chamber's is actually dating women or has simply taken what amounts to a vow of chastity.
An ex of mine who was raised in a very religous family that took it far more seriously than sunday worship and before bed prayers had told me that a member of her congregation was a lesbian, but because of her belief and the congregation's "findings" that homosexuality is against their beliefs that she basically has chosen to be celibate and never date. She understands that she cannot "convert" to the straight life, and has decided that her love for god is more important than sharing love with another person.
I wish I knew exactly what specific sect of christianity that her group was under, but they are pretty devout in how they practice. Everything is "fact checked" amongst several different religous books and the children are all taught how to do this. While the children are raised as part of this religion they aren't really part of the flock until they actually choose to be, somewhere in their mid-teens, at which time they are baptised.
I can respect the woman's decision to abstain from her own physical desires for her religous desires, but the whole idea or mindset behind it still confuses me.
I can't believe it took them this long to figure it out. Seems to me this is just common sense. It's no different than trying to permanently change someone's eye color. And that Chambers guy is fooling no one. He's just hiding in the closet again. I would think it's a pretty miserable existence to not allow yourself to be who you really are.
