The Issues:
"Ex-Gay" Ministries and Reparative Therapy
"For nearly three decades, it has been known that homosexuality is not a mental illness. Medical and Mental health professionals also now know that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be altered. Groups who try to change the sexual orientation of people through so-called 'conversion therapy' are misguided and run the risk of causing a great deal of psychological harm to those they say they are trying to help."
– The American Psychological Association
Over the past three decades, groups promising to “heal”, “change” or “save” gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from their sexual orientation or gender identity have been striving to build their clout and influence in religious and political circles. That is especially true in Maryland, where anti-gay political extremists align themselves closely with “ex-gay” ministries like Exodus International.
Outside of being inaccurate in the facts that they use to support their position that one can actually change their sexual orientation, these programs have been roundly denounced by every legitimate mental health association – including the American Psychiatric Association, American Counseling Association and American Psychological Association -- as unhealthy and even potentially dangerous for those who enroll.
Below are links to find information and assistance if you know someone who may be questioning their sexual orientation and/or struggling with what their faith tradition tells them about being gay or transgender.
About Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:
- Answers to your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality, by the American Psychological Association.
- “Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth”, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Education Association
- “Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior”
About Ex-Gay Ministries and Reparative Therapy:
- American Psychological Association Resolution on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation
- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, (PFLAG)
- “Mission Impossible: Why Reparative Therapy and Ex-Gay Ministries Fail," by the Human Rights Campaign
- Finally Free: Personal Stories: How Love and Self-Acceptance Saved Us from ‘Ex-gay’ Ministries," by the Human Rights Campaign
- Calculated Compassion: How the Ex-Gay Movement Serves the Right’s Attack on Democracy," by the Policy Institute of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Spiritual/Religious Resources on Sexuality and the Bible:
- Metropolitan Community Churches
- Soulforce
- A national list of gay-friendly denominations and religious organizations
- The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
Other sites of Interest:
- ExGayWatch.com
- WayneBesen.com – author of Anything But Straight.
Federal Agencies
Department of Education
| Office of Civil Rights Mary E. Switzer Building 330 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20202 Phone: (202) 205-5413; 1-800-421-3491 Fax: (202) 205-9862 TDD: (202) 205-5166 http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/ This office has the mission to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. They have an extensive list of publications at their website and offer other technical assistance through the contact information listed above. |
Safe and Drug Free
Schools Program Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 Phone: (202) 401-0113 Fax: (202) 205-0310 http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/index.html This office is charged with assisting the Department of Education to reach the seventh national education goal - that by the year 2000 all schools will be free of drugs and violence and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol and will offer a disciplined environment that is conducive to learning. It has several publications available through the contact information cited above, including the website. |
Department of Health and Human Services
| Health Resources and
Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care Division of Programs for Special Populations 4350 East-West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 594-4100 http://bphc.hrsa.gov/ In 1994, the HRSA Division of Programs for Special Populations convened a conference on the primary health care and prevention needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Out of that conference evolved a health and mental health provider guide that is also accessible for educators and parents. (Ryan, C. and Futterman, D., Lesbian and Gay Youth: Care and Counseling, Columbia University Press 1998) |
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of Adolescent and School Health 4770 Buford Highway NE Atlanta, GA 30341-3717 Office: (770) 488-3251 Fax: (770) 488-3110 http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/ The CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) has identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning adolescents as a priority population for HIV infection. One of DASH's Youth in High Risk Situations Work Groups is focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. |
Non-Governmental Organizations
Mental Health Organizations
| American Counseling
Association (ACA) 5999 Stevenson Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304-3300 Office: (703) 823-9800 Fax: (703) 823-0252 www.counseling.org |
American Psychiatric
Association (APA) 1400 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Office: (202) 682-6097 Fax: (202) 682-6352 www.psych.org |
| American Psychological Association (APA) Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Concerns Office 750 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 Office: (202) 336- 6041 Fax: (202) 336-6040 www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/ |
Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists (AGLP) 4514 Chester Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143-3707 Office: (215) 222-2800 Fax: (215) 222-3881 www.aglp.org |
| National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 4340 East West Highway Suite 402 Bethesda, MD 20814 Office: (301) 657-0270 x223 Fax: (301) 657-0275 www.naspweb.org |
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Issues 750 First Street, NE, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20002-4241 Office: (202) 408-8600 Fax: (202) 336-8310 www.socialworkers.org |
Health Organizations
| American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) Division of Child and Adolescent Health 141 Northwest Point Blvd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Office: (847) 228-5005 Fax: (847) 228-5097 www.aap.org |
American Medical
Association (AMA) Child and Adolescent Health Program 515 North State Street, 8th Fl. Chicago, IL 60610 Office: (312) 464-5315 Fax: (312) 464-5842 www.ama-assn.org |
| National Association of School Nurses,
Inc. P.O. Box 1300 Scarborough, ME 04070-1300 Phone: (207) 883-2117 Fax: (207) 883-2683 www.NASN.org |
Education Organizations
| American Association
of School Administrators (AASA) 1801 North Moore Street Arlington, VA 22209 Phone: (703) 528-0700 Fax: (703) 841-1543 www.aasa.org |
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Human Rights & Community Relations Department 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001-2079 Office: (202) 879-4434 Fax: (202) 393-8648 www.aft.org |
| American School Health Association (ASHA) 7263 State Route 43 P.O. Box 708 Kent, OH 44240 Office: (330) 678-1601 Fax: (330) 678-4526 www.ashaweb.org |
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) 121 West 27th St., Suite 804 New York, NY 10001 Office: (212) 727-0135 Fax: (212) 727-0254 www.glsen.org |
| National Education Association (NEA) Human & Civil Rights 1201 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3290 Office: (202) 822-7700 Fax: (202) 822-7578 www.nea.org |
National School Boards Association (NSBA) 1680 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Office: (703) 838-6756 Fax: (703) 548-5616 www.nsba.org/schoolhealth |
Other National Organizations Serving GLBT Youth
| Lambda Legal Defense
and Education Fund (LLDEF) 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500 New York, NY 10005 Office: (212) 809-8585 Fax: (212) 809-0055 www.lambdalegal.org |
National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) 1638 R Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20009 Office: (202) 319-7596 Fax: (202) 319-7365 www.nyacyouth.org |
| Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1030 Washington, DC 20005 Office: (202) 638-4200 Fax: (202) 638-0243 www.pflag.org |
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