This year legislation was introduced in California
that would classify Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy (SOCT) as a deceptive
act of consumer fraud. Backed by findings by medical, psychological and
psychiatric associations, and with clear evidence such therapy doesn’t work, AB
2943 was introduced.
As a lesbian
minister, over the past 29 years I have counseled many people who had
tried “ex-gay ministries” (SOCT) in an
attempt to be converted to heterosexuality; none of them successful. Indeed, the
news carried details of fallen leaders of ex-gay ministries caught in gay bars
or furtively seeking same sex companionship. Some, such as Jeremy Marks and
Michael Bussee, co-founders of Exodus, International, not only came out as
“ex-ex-gays” but acknowledged conversion
therapy doesn’t work and is harmful to those who attempt it. They apologized
for the harm they inadvertently did to the lgbtq community in their attempt to
seek heterosexuality in order to be approved by God
Thus, I was appalled at an editorial in the August 9,
2018 edition of the Gazette which stated that LGBTQ persons and their families
should have access to the clearly debunked efforts of Sexual Orientation
Conversion Therapy (SOCT) This editorial stated that the government shouldn’t
attempt to regulate or ban such therapies because, “no state should declare
‘invalid’ or ‘unlawful’ a treatment individuals desire, pay for, and
appreciate.”
In an Orwellian twist (four legs good, two legs better! chant the “re-educated” animals
under the tutelage of the devious Snowball) the Gazette seems to be saying it is
sympathetic to members of the LGBTQ community having free will in seeking to
live their lives to the fullest.
Unfortunately, the Gazette completely misses the
danger of SOCT. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that not
only does research show SOCT is unlikely to be successful, it carries a serious
risk of harm to the client. Most SOCT is advocated by religious conservatives
who believe homosexuality is a sin that goes against their god’s will, although,
the APA states “the research and
clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions,
feelings and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality,
regardless of sexual orientation identity. (http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/sexual-orientation.aspx)
For someone to be told that something as natural as
left-handedness is sin leads to a deep-seated sense of shame over their
identity; this, plus family and
church pressure, is why people seek out SOCT. When the therapy doesn’t work (just
as attempts to convert me to right-handedness as a child didn’t work) the
client feels deeper shame and a profound sense of failing their family, church,
and god. No wonder suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth are 3- 5 times higher
than their heterosexual counterparts
Our response to those who seek SOCT due to their
sense of shame and guilt over perfectly natural feelings should be to encourage
what the APA suggests: “the
appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for those who
seek SOCT involves therapist acceptance, support and understanding of clients
and the facilitation of clients’ active coping, social support and identity
exploration and development, without imposing a specific sexual orientation
identity outcome.”
At the end of the day,
SOCT is a fraudulent practice, regardless of how fervently those who champion
it and those who attempt it wish otherwise. Our energy is better served
creating a community and culture in which people don’t have to hide or try to
change who they are in order to be accepted by their families or their
communities of faith. Just imagine a world where the amazing diversity of all
creation was celebrated rather than pathologized. That’s a vision I can get
behind.
