So Much For That: Gay Conversions Don't Work

By Ethan Lascity posted Aug 6th 2009 12:30PM

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.