Dear Editor:
For the second week in a row, State Senator Guth advocates for “conversion therapy” for homosexuals. He refers to the American College of Pediatricians as if that were some sort of expert group.
Well, it’s time somebody told you about the other side of that story. Using a simple internet search, I found the following information.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, “The American College of Pediatricians is a fringe anti-LGBTQ hate group that masquerades as the premier U.S. association of pediatricians to push anti-LGBTQ junk science, primarily via far-right conservative media… it opposes adoption by LGBTQ couples, links homosexuality to pedophilia, endorses sexual orientation conversion therapy for homosexual youth, believes transgender people have a mental illness, and has called transgender health care for youth child abuse.”
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states: “There is no evidence to support the application of any “therapeutic intervention”… Furthermore, based on the scientific evidence, the AACAP asserts that such “conversion therapies” lack scientific credibility and clinical utility. Additionally, there is evidence that such interventions are harmful. As a result, “conversion therapies” should not be part of any behavioral health treatment.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Therapy directed at specifically changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation.”
The American College of Physicians states, “Available research does not support the use of reparative therapy as an effective method in the treatment of LGBT persons. Evidence shows that the practice may actually cause emotional or physical harm to LGBT individuals, particularly adolescents or young persons.”
The American Counseling Association states, “The belief that same-sex attraction and behavior is abnormal and in need of treatment is in opposition to the position taken by national mental health organizations, including ACA. The ACA opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation and adopted a statement opposing the promotion of reparative therapy as a cure for individuals who are homosexual.”
The American Medical Association states, “The AMA opposes the use of ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy that is based upon the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder.”
The American Psychiatric Association states, “The APA opposes any psychiatric treatment such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder. (Attempts) to convert or ‘repair’ homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Furthermore, anecdotal reports of ‘cures’ are counterbalanced by claims of psychological harm. In the last four decades, ‘reparative’ therapists have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure. The APA recommends that ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals’ sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum to first, do no harm.”
That’s right Senator, do no harm.
