Sexual reorientation therapy is not unethical
Since then, the role of psychotherapy in sexual orientation change efforts has been politicized. Gay and lesbian rights activists appear to be convincing the public that homosexuality is one identical inherited characteristic. To my dismay, some in the organized mental health community seem to agree, including the American Psychological Association, though I don’t believe that view is supported by scientific evidence.
Gays and lesbians have the right to be affirmed in their homosexuality. That’s why, as a member of the APA Council of Representatives in 1975, I sponsored the resolution by which the APA stated that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and, in 1976, the resolution, which passed the council unanimously, that gays and lesbians should not be discriminated against in the workplace.
But contending that all same-sex attraction is immutable is a distortion of reality. Attempting to characterize all sexual reorientation therapy as “unethical” violates patient choice and gives an outside party a veto over patients’ goals for their own treatment. A political agenda shouldn’t prevent gays and lesbians who desire to change from making their own decisions.









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So does it go both ways then?
BJ* on July 31, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Of course it is unethical. This society has been working over time to reorient straights into gays and into other degenerative lifestyles for decades and it is unethical. Going the other way, and bringing people back into a lifestyle of life is not however.
astonerii on July 31, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Q: What do you call a sexual reorientation clinic that turns straight men into homosexuals?
A: Prison!
Mr. Arkadin on July 31, 2013 at 3:25 PM
It’s not unethical if it’s not forced.
gryphon202 on July 31, 2013 at 3:25 PM
Sexual Reorientation therapy should be de-rigeur treatment for all cases of homosexuality disorder.
Homosexuality is, despite what this fool thought back in the 1970′s, a bona-fide mental health issue. Gays need help. Good psychological help. Not marriage licenses and approval from society.
wearyman on July 31, 2013 at 3:26 PM
I don’t necessarily disagree with this sentiment ipso facto, but if they need help they have to come to that conclusion and find it on their own. Forced medical treatment is always unethical, no matter the intent of the person administering that treatment.
gryphon202 on July 31, 2013 at 3:28 PM
You are asking the wrong question. The issue is not freedom to be gay, but the right to choose who you associate with. If someone who isn’t a pillow biter wants to seek therapy to become one, rightly or wrongly, they should be free to do so. But the gay agenda is now imposing upon our liberties. Before you say “Well that’s only for minors!” so what? What’s next? Prohibitions on minors attending certain religious services because the APA says it’s wrong?
NotCoach on July 31, 2013 at 3:28 PM
The Helen Thomas Memorial.
MadisonConservative on July 31, 2013 at 3:28 PM
So if I understand liberal thinking you can’t tell a woman what to do with the baby growing in her womb but you can tell a gay woman what to do with her mind and feelings.
gwelf on July 31, 2013 at 3:30 PM
That sir was unnecessary and uncalled for. Effective, but still…
nobar on July 31, 2013 at 3:31 PM
If you are having that problem just take one look at this.
NotCoach on July 31, 2013 at 3:35 PM
In college the question I usually asked the psychology majors was:
“Well, what do you think is wrong with you ?”
viking01 on July 31, 2013 at 3:38 PM
Threadwinner!
Stoic Patriot on July 31, 2013 at 3:40 PM
That’s right because being gay is a wonderful thing and should be the desire of every heterosexual person. Those seeking to become gay are encouraged to do so. Those that seek to reorient to heterosexual are mentally ill and should be treated to ensure that they stay as nature intended.
Dr. Frank Enstine on July 31, 2013 at 3:41 PM
It goes against the liberal shibboleth that a homosexual orientation is inherent, unchangeable, immutable, “who you are”, and to say otherwise means you’re a … a … a flat-earther, a science denier, a hater, a bigot, a … a … *gets all flustered*.
Paul-Cincy on July 31, 2013 at 3:42 PM
For the record, I do know at least one person who has undergone such therapy and claims, emphatically, that it has helped him.
It is a typical liberal attitude that you are what you are forever, and must do as you’re told– happy rich people are stuck that way, and should be nicer to those on the bottom, and if you’re fat or a total moocher (or both), trying to advance is a waste of time, unless it’s advancing down the block to the welfare office. The conservative (and not coincidentally, the religious) view is generally that you are endlessly capable of changing and improving yourself, including the most seemingly fundamental areas of your psyche. Why people think the former works better is beyond me.
ChicagoJewishGuy on July 31, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Zero’s Revrum’ Wrong’s Matchmaking Center is gonna feel left out.
That and Nanzi Pelosi’s San Fransicko Singles Guild…
viking01 on July 31, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Q. “How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?”
A. “Only one. But the light bulb has to WANT to change”
This is the problem with any therapy where the patient isn’t 100% committed to the agreed-on outcome. This is a primary reason therapy fails for rapists and child molesters. They don’t really want to stop raping women and molesting children. I don’t care who you are, changing who you are is a HUGE undertaking. Most people would just as soon cut off a foot than lose some part of who they are. Look at the posters at HotGas. So many are who they are … come back in 5 years, they’ll be saying the identical crap they are now.
So if some gay guy decides he wants to change, I think there should be a professional therapist he can go to to help him get there. Why not? I don’t give a crap if it goes against some liberal’s understanding of homosexuality. Maybe that liberal’s understanding is wrong.
And finally, the typical “argument” is “society doesn’t like homosexuals, so if you change from gay to straight, then you’re just doing what society wants you to do”. That’s so convoluted, I’ll just say, it’s wrong and stupid to think that way.
Paul-Cincy on July 31, 2013 at 3:51 PM
I’ve read articles regarding government agency’s refusal to allow people with religious objections to homosexuality to be foster parents or adopt, although I think that was in Britain. The children in question were not gay, but the state’s position was that the prospective foster parents/adoptive parents were bigots and would teach the children to hate gays. I suspect that will be happening in this country soon. The current PC attitude, is that it’s better a child stay in a shelter than be placed with a religious foster parent.
mbs on July 31, 2013 at 3:54 PM
Homosexuality is a simple perceptual aberration of nature, like being red/green color blind. Nothing to celebrate unless you want to celebrate club feet as well.
BL@KBIRD on July 31, 2013 at 3:55 PM
This is one of the biggest reasons I can think of to organize politically. That’s the only way we can fight this kind of thing.
Paul-Cincy on July 31, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Absolutely.
The problem is that we offer gays other options beyond therapy or keeping in the closet. More than that, we offer complete acceptance and even encouragement! We have thousands of people living in a warped and unhealthy lifestyle and society has given up trying to help them. I weep for them and for our country when I see how far we have fallen in so short a time.
wearyman on July 31, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Hey, it’s what religion, or at least Christianity, has been preaching for thousands of years: you CAN change.
I’ll be the first to admit that same sex attraction is a tough road to hoe. But if you have a belief that humans are more than just an animal, that we have freedom to choose, then it’s got to be possible to change.
Christianity has always stated that we are fallen critters with, fundamentally, a challenge to gain self discipline and control our bodies and follow the Master.
It’s no different than any other addiction–drugs, alcohol, stealing, etc. If you really want to change, it will be rough….. but possible.
The APA notwithstanding.
Vanceone on July 31, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Absolutely. The APA had it right when homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder in the DSM. It was removed for political reasons, not scientific ones.
Shump on July 31, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Where the Janet Reno sex tape is running on a continuous loop.
alchemist19 on July 31, 2013 at 4:12 PM
And when a group like the APA makes its decisions based on politics we get politically agenda driven policies that make gays sacrosanct.
NotCoach on July 31, 2013 at 4:13 PM
I’m sure ‘crazy’ people warned him back then that this could lead to a slippery slope.
faraway on July 31, 2013 at 4:18 PM
nobar on July 31, 2013 at 4:25 PM
If it were “unethical” that would mean any individual or group which helps anyone to come out as “gay” would also be unethical.
whatcat on July 31, 2013 at 4:33 PM
Human sexuality is too complex to be adequately described on a simple range of orientations. Some people have mental health issues that are directly tied to their conceptions of their own orientations. Resolving those issues to some degree will affect those conceptions and may even change them. In those cases, all for the better.
novaculus on July 31, 2013 at 4:34 PM
So much for choice huh?
The APA de-listed homosexuality as a mental illness for political reasons. Not scientific. And we’ve been suffering from that decision ever since.
If anything undermines the “born that way” orthodoxy, it must be destroyed, because it would undermine the whole “gay rights” & “gay marriage” movements, and derail the lefts attempt to criminalize religion through discrimination law.
Iblis on July 31, 2013 at 4:54 PM
And this is why in most cases it is unethical.
Wait until the first publicized cases of psychs determining that Patient X would be healthier and happier as a gay man if you want to see heads pop in outrage.
dieudonne on July 31, 2013 at 4:58 PM
It’s not the question you are most interested in but it’s certainly relevant. There will by psychs who believe certain heterosexual men are essentially exhibiting traits of malformed nascent homosexuality. There is not a fundamental understanding of heterosexuality as an ideal form from which homosexuality deviates. I’ve heard this conversation at holiday dinners already for years now.
dieudonne on July 31, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Actually human sexuality is pretty straightforward. Penis goes into vagina. Shake well. 9 months later baby pops out. Or species dies off. Everything else is in your head.
Iblis on July 31, 2013 at 5:58 PM