The practice and ethics of sexual orientation conversion therapy.

Abstract

Sexual orientation conversion therapy was the treatment of choice when homosexuality was thought to be an illness. Despite the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness, efforts to sexually reorient lesbians and gay men continue. The construct of sexual orientation is examined, as well as what constitutes its change. The literature in psychotherapeutic and religious conversion therapies is reviewed, showing no evidence indicating that such treatments are effective in their intended purpose. A need for empirical data on the potentially harmful effects of such treatments is established. Ethical considerations relative to the ongoing stigmatizing effects of conversion therapies are presented. The need to develop more complex models for conceptualizing sexual orientation is discussed, as well as the need to provide treatments to gay men and lesbians that are consonant with psychology's stance on homosexuality.

«Σιωπή! Προσεγγίζοντας Την Περίπτωση Των Μαθητών Που Αντιμετωπίζονται Στο Σχολείο Ως Ομοφυλόφιλοι»

“…Η ψυχική ευεξία αυτών των µαθητών βρίσκεται σε ̟ολύ χαµηλό βαθµό σε σχέση µε τους συµµαθητές τους ̟ου είναι α̟οκλειστικά ετεροφυλόφιλοι (Busseri et al 2006) και το αρνητικό σχολικό ̟εριβάλλον τους οδηγεί να µην εκφράζουν αυτό ̟ου αισθάνονται (Haldeman, 1994). Λόγω της κοινωνικής αντιµετώ̟ισής τους, ̟ολλοί α̟οµονώνονται, οδηγούνται στην κατάθλιψη (Martin-Storey & Crosnoe, 2012), µ̟ορεί να αντιµετω̟ίσουν δυσκολίες µάθησης, να οδηγηθούν σε σχολική α̟οτυχία, να εγκαταλείψουν το σχολείο ή την οικογενειακή τους στέγη ή να οδηγηθούν στην ̟ορνεία (Cramer & Roach, 1988;Griffin, Wirth, & Wirth, 1996;Grossman & Kerner, 1998;Jordan et al, 1997;Kruks, 1991;SavinWilliams, & Dube, 1998;Savin-Williams, 1994;Strommen, 1993).…”

Gay rights, patient rights: The implications of sexual orientation conversion therapy.

“…Critiques of the conversion therapy literature (Haldeman, 1994(Haldeman, , 1999Stein, 1996) show that sampling bias is but one of several methodological problems with studies of therapeutic interventions to change sexual orientation. Response bias is a major issue because of the social and cultural pressure experienced by both patient and therapist/evaluators.…”

“…There are a number of reviews (Drescher, 1998;Haldeman, 1991Haldeman, , 1994Murphy, 1992;Stein, 1996) that examine numerous studies of treatments for homosexuality and their outcomes. Such treatment programs spanned a wide range of psychological interventions, from behavioral methods to psychoanalytic approaches.…”

“…Some proponents of conversion therapies portray homosexuality as freely chosen and changeable, which appeals to those who would limit civil rights protections for LGB individuals. This position was reinforced by a high-profile advertising campaign designed to persuade ambivalent gay male and lesbian individuals that their unwanted homoerotic feelings can be changed (Haldeman, 1999).…”

Minimizing oppression and discrimination faced by gay and lesbian youth in Northern British Columbia.

“…Intersexed: An individual born with some combination of male, and female chromosomes, genitals (reproductive organs), and those with ambiguous sex organs at birth (Haldeman, 1994). m) Sexual Identity.…”