Reparative Therapy

Well, yesterday (8/5/09) the American Psychological Association issued a press release about a report which repudiates reparative therapy, or so you would think if you read the summary (you can get their statement and link to full report. They call reparative therapy "sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE)", like a fancy name makes it different, scientific or more important.

Anyway, the APA clearly states that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and can't not be changed. But then they hedge their bets saying one's personal faith and religions, especially when practiced as part of an organized church or group, can create conflicts in the individual, and thus should be treated.

Not for their homosexuality, but for the conflicts with their sexual orientation and their faith, religion or church. The APA has long removed homosexuality from the DSM standards and have long criticized reparative therapy, and you would think this would put the final nail in the coffin for reapartive therapy.

Or so you would think. So why hedge over religion and give the homophobic religious groups the right to continue to pursue reparative therapy disguised as religious or faith healing? This isn't going to change their practice, and may in fact cement it with the APA subtle blessing, meaning calling their efforts scientific.

After all they're only trying to help the person with their faith to rid them of their homosexuality. I doubt this will stop the religious folks from saying it's clear then that homosexuality can be healed through religion or faith. It's the person who has lost or misunderstand what God is saying to them. Or so they can say.

All that despite the evidence show reparative therapy has not and does not work, and they give the religous community an out, and to continue, even if they misunderstand and misuse the APA report and recommendations. All this is like the APA saying. "We're absolutely certain about homosexuality, but we could be wrong about their faith and their homosexuality."

Yeah right. The status quo officially rolls on.