Gays, "ex-gays" square off at psychology meeting

[cboy4]

Here we go again... :eyes:
---------------------------------

SUMMARY: Activists speak outside the American Psychological Association convention to counter people seeking to have gayness relabeled a mental disorder.

The pro-gay organization Truth Wins Out held a news conference Friday outside the American Psychological Association's annual convention in New Orleans to counter a coalition of anti-gay protesters seeking to have homosexuality relabeled a mental disorder.

"This is the subversion of science and a religious racket designed to con Americans into believing that homosexuality is a mental illness," Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, whose mission is to debunk the ex-gay myth, said in a written statement.

"This coalition is trying to kill the APA messenger because they don't like their science-based message. These 'ex-gay' groups keep no statistics, they produce no peer reviewed studies, most of their top leaders have reverted back to homosexuality, and they conveniently disregard scientific evidence that does not conform to their political agenda," Besen said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20060812/co_po/gaysexgayssquareoffatpsychologymeeting

[foreigncorrespondent]

1. I actually heard about this...

...on my radio station (Australias only LGBTIQQ radio station JOY FM) this morning on my way to work. I clapped when they read the statement the APA released, most of all this one sentence: "For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure." Good on them!!!

[W_HAMILTON]

2. Wonder how many of those "ex-gays"

would be willing to undergo a lie detector test? I'm guessing not too many. You would think if they are so sure of themselves, they would be lining up to take one and "prove" that you can be gay and "turn" straight.

[Jamastiene]

3. Wasn't there a story about the founders of the

ex-gay movement ending up in a relationship with each other? They were both men. I remember seeing something about that. I think it was at turnleft.com, but it has been so long since I read it.

[ruggerson]

4. The entire "ex gay" movement is based on falsehoods

In fact, the entire religious rightwing agenda is based on lies.

This is what they do, and who they are.

They are liars.

[dsc]

5. The fact of the matter is that they exist because

society has made being gay such a hard road to take. Thus they often lobby against any kind of law which might improve the lots of gay people. It really is bad that they take advantage of the hatred society heaps upon us to 'save' our souls. I can't find much positive to say about people who peddle snake oil and quackery.

[Meeker Morgan]

6. Why not ex-gay? I'm ex-straight! [sarc]

Well sort of, behaviorally speaking.

When I grew up, straight was the default assumption. No big religious guilt trip about it in my family, but gay just wasn't normal.

It took me a few years to be out to myself.

Can't see going "back". I never was really "there".

[NMMNG]

7. Uncontrollable bigotry should be labelled a mental disorder

Perhaps "Bigoted Personality Disorder" would be appropriate.