Conversion Therapy Fails to ‘Pray Away the Gay’

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/conversion-therapy-fails-to-pray-away-the-gay-36569/

“Pray away the gay” joins other notable catchphrases in our popular culture and comedians’ repertoires, (perhaps like “wide stance” did just a few years ago.) This time it’s due to the efforts of Michele and Marcus Bachmann, who run a Christian counseling center practicing what is called “reparative therapy.”

Skeptical thinkers may ask how a simple prayer could change people’s core sexual orientation. Could heterosexual-oriented people “pray to be gay”? More seriously, why is there a treatment for something that is not an illness? A critical investigation into the practice of conversion therapy requires more serious scientific evidence than belief in the power of prayer alone.

Historically, some psychiatrists who viewed homosexuality as a mental illness tried electroshock aversion therapy as a cure. In more recent years, behavior modification became a less barbaric alternative. Endorsed mostly by religiously driven therapists to change sexual orientation, reparative or conversion therapy assumes that what needs to be repaired is an individual’s homosexuality, not the social stigma contributing to that individual’s negative feelings and behaviors. These ideas now are almost 40 years out-of-date.

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a disorder in its “bible,” the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Two years later the American Psychological Association, and later many other counseling, social work, and medical organizations, endorsed this revised view, leading almost all mental health organizations to oppose reparative therapy.

(Note by me- not according to some of the religious rags out there
http://news.google.com/news/more?q=gay+news&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS413US414&prmd=imvnsu&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1152&bih=496&wrapid=tlif131738303001610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ncl=dkq9ap7EJmKXhpMIC7ErI78sfjbhM&ei=iauFTr3rHeaksQK6p_mcDw&sa=X&oi=news_result&ct=more-results&resnum=5&ved=0CE4QqgIwBDgK )

[SuzEQual]

1. The genetics of homosexuality

Given the little I know about the "gay gene" studies that are in the literature, this seems completely ridiculous. I, like you, am shocked that this type of behavior gets any credence. Considerable heritability of homosexuality has been demonstrated in multiple studies, and specific genetic variants have been identified as associated. Has 100% of the heritability been genetically explained?? No, but neither has the heritability of other complex traits, such as hair or eye color. This fact that the underlying genetics are not totally understood is not evidence for the nurture side of the Nature v. Nurture debate!

What do these Christian counseling centers believe? Do they acknowledge the genetic component of homosexuality? Or do they deny that it exists since it is not totally understood? I guess I am wondering if this so-called "therapy" attempts to overcome the individual's inborn tendency to be gay, or to more simply change a learned behavior. The concept as a whole is ridiculous, but it seems exceptionally preposterous if they are willing to admit that sexual orientation is an innate feature of the human condition.

On the topic, I saw a t-shirt on this topic at Dallas Pride and LOVED it...there's a write up on the design at http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_wordpress&p=12092&Itemid=482. I bought one from their website (www.touchmytees.me)!

[w8liftinglady]

6. I LOVE that shirt!

[SuzEQual]

10. gayDNA tee

I got blue and it is SO soft. My new fav tee

[RckPaprSzzrMe]

12. gayDNA shirt...Y in DNA??

I just looked at the www.touchmytees.me shirt...love it!! But is there a Y in DNA or is it just supposed to be funny??

[SuzEQual]

14. Yes!! Well kinda...

The four bases are A,T,G, and C. But in some scenarios (ex: mitochondria DNA) it is possible to have two bases in the same position. There is a different letter used to designate two-base combinations and Y is used to designate a mixture of T and C.

[yardwork]

7. Welcome to DU!

[SuzEQual]

9. New DU junkie

Well thank you! :) Cool forum...

[RckPaprSzzrMe]

11. The logic (?) behind this therapy

Hey Suz- do you have some references for the studies you are referring to? I am not a scientist, but I would love to get a basic understanding of what has been done in this area of research.

I am from a devoutly Christian upbringing, and it seems to me that they in general do not acknowledge the genetic component of sexual orientation...thus, homosexuality is a behavior that needs correction. This is so damaging...the opposite of therapy.

Then there are the few who actually do acknowledge the innateness of homosexuality. BUT in this case, they equate it to alcoholism...a disease with known genetic propensity that individuals simply must overcome through God (therein lies the "pray away" potion of the so-called therapy). While this seems less damaging to me, it is still no less ignorant.

[Zorra]

15. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Jamastiene]

2. That so-called "therapy" causes more harm than if

the person was left alone. It's damned dangerous. Why they are allowed to do that to people, I will never understand.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. Absolutely

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. In my opinion, reparative therapy is abusive and anyone practicing it...

should have all counseling-related licenses revoked immediately. They are inflicting mental harm, not engaging in a beneficial therapeutic process.

[William769]

5. +1.

:thumbsup:

Recommended.

[yardwork]

8. It's particularly sad and sick that parents inflict this on their children.

Most people entering this so-called reparative therapy are NOT doing so willingly. They are minor children who have been forced into these programs - sometimes through literal kidnapping - where they are held against their will and subjected to emotional and physical torture.

[Jamastiene]

13. Agreed. n/t

[Initech]

16. I totally agree!