Ex-Gay Ministries

Also known as reparative therapy or sexual orientation conversion therapy


These are various methods ranging from prayer to aversive conditioning, such as electric shock or nausea-inducing drugs, that is intended to change a homosexual orientation to a heterosexual one, or at least to lessen the homosexual desires to the point where they are willing to remain celibate (having sexual activity with no one). The most high-profile contemporary advocates of conversion therapy tend to be conservative Christian groups and other religious organizations.

In a 2009 Task Force on Sexual Orientation, the American Psychological Association concluded after a careful review of the research and papers that such therapies and those who advocate them "have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure."  (link to this full report provided below)  In other words, there is no hard evidence that Ex-Gay Ministries work, but there is evidence that they can do harm to the individual.  It should be noted that there are many religious leaders and places of worship that hold the same belief.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of Social Workers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured.” 

With that caution from the scientific community, we present below links to sites that will provide you with the positions and reasons for both sides of the issue.

 

CRITICAL OF EX-GAY MINISTRIES AND REPARATIVE THERAPY

Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (August 2009)
A two year study by the APA to revisit and update their previous statements and to talk with and review the evidence by  advocates on both sides of the issue.

Mental health professionals should avoid telling clients they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.  (October 2009)

 

 

What has the ex-gay ministries really done?

- a brief documentary from the PBS program In The Life

 

  Part One:  Interview with the psychiatrist Dr. Alicia Salzar about her documentary "Abomination" on the medical and psychological merits of ex-gay ministries.  Conducted by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Canada's national public radio and TV network..

  Part Two:   Continuation of interview with Dr. Alicia Salzar, psychiatrist and producer of the movie "Abomination" which takes a look at the Ex Gay ministries, their culture and claims.
   

 

Rachael Meadow of MSNBC News channel: The story behind curing homosexuality

Rachael Meadow interviews Richard Cohen, a leader in Ex-Gay Ministry who claims he is a former homosexual 

 

Beyond Ex-Gay: helping people traumatized by ex-gay ministries, Reparative Therapy, and homophobic churches

Ex-Gay Watch -a web blog that provides analysis of all things ex-gay.

Ex-gay is a myth and often a con game to get your money

 

 


SEEKING TO PRESENT BOTH SIDES

Looking at both Gay Affirmative Therapy and Reparative Therapy
A website devoted to religious tolerance has pulled together statements and links concerning therapy that helps lesbians and gay men accept who they are (Gay Affirmative Therapy) and therapies whose purpose it is to change homosexuals to heterosexuals (Reparative Therapy)
The material appears to have been collected in 2008, but still provides a useful overview.

 

 

SUPPORTIVE  OF EX-GAY MINISTRIES AND REPARATIVE THERAPY

Christianity Today, a conservative magazine, believes that there is evidence homosexuals can change and that the ex-gay ministries are changing what they think is realistic. (Sept. 2007)

 

 

Doug McIntyre, the National Director of HA, Homosexuals Anonymous, talks about how change is possible for homosexuals.

 

PFOX:  Parents and Friends of Ex-Gay... - in support of ex-gay efforts and ministries -the counter organization to the pro-gay PFLAG

 


Jayson Graves discusses conversion therapy and how it changed him.

 

Exodus International

- home website for this controversial and best known of the ex-gay ministries

Factual list of Ex-Gay Ministries organizations

Home page of the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), - NARTH's claims about the number of professional therapists in its membership and their training background have been strongly disputed by research organizations.  For one analysis of their claims, click here.

 

Jewish Ex-Gay Ministry:  There is an organization called JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality) and we had intended to offer a link to their website as a continuation of our policy of providing resources on both sides of issues, but recent news reports have stated that Arthur Goldberg who founded and heads JONAH (and is also Executive Secretary of NARTH) is a convicted felon for selling $2 billion in fraudul entmunicipal bonds and was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on 52 counts of bribery, fraud, and conspiracy in 1989 and served a federal prison sentence.  In his position at JONAH and NARTH he acts as if he has an extensive knowledge of both psychology and Jewish theology, but holds degrees in neither of those fields.

 

Popular Hindu guru claims homosexuality can be cured by yoga and other meditation techniques