The ex-gay files: The bizarre world of gay-to-straight conversion

[ccharles000]

Patrick Strudwick-

In Britain today therapists are trying to convert gay men and women to heterosexuality. I know this, because for several months I infiltrated this network of therapists and put myself – a happy, "out" gay man – through treatment.

According to a report by Professor Michael King of University College London, one in six UK psychiatrists and psychotherapists have sought to reduce or change a patient's sexual orientation. And with the help of the American conversion therapy movement, practitioners here, along with a clutch of international "conversion" organisations, are becoming co-ordinated and unified. They plan to gain credibility, university backing and government funding. In some cases, the NHS is even paying for the treatment.

This is despite the fact that homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – psychiatry's glossary of conditions – 36 years ago. And despite much evidence that such practices are damaging and ineffective.

My investigation began last spring, shortly after King's report was published, when an evangelical group held a conference in a central London church for therapists wanting to learn how to "reorient" their patients. I wanted to know who these therapists were, what happened during the treatment, and what effect it would have on the recipient. I posed as a potential client wanting to be cured.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-exgay-files-the-bizarre-world-of-gaytostraight-conversion-1884947.html

[Heidi]

1. Abuse and exploitation, plain and simple.

:puke:

[murray hill farm]

2. That is just horrid!

Teaching therapists to teach self hate to their clients.

[HillbillyBob]

3. teh stoopid

:hurts:

[TheBigotBasher]

4. Wow

K&R

[tomm2thumbs]

5. ain't enough o's in stoopid for these idiots

sounds like they are projecting their wishes on others - but we know how many therapists get into the business trying to fix themselves

[BR_Parkway]

6. Anything for a dime - there's always a willing sucker to hand it over

They plan to gain credibility, university backing and government funding. In some cases, the NHS is even paying for the treatment.

[dsc]

7. thanks for bringing this important story to our attention.

[gratuitous]

8. If this crap had any validity . . .

It would work gay-to-straight and straight-to-gay, and it wouldn't require highly motivated therapists and patients. But the fact is there are no long-term studies. Engineers can cause the Chicago River to flow out of Lake Michigan, but without an army of folks working every year, it would go back to its natural flow. Ted Haggard and his wife will be finding this out to their own sorrow in the next couple of years.

[pipi_k]

9. Oh, neat...I wonder how long it'll be before they decide to "cure" us of

other stuff we're born with...

like large feet, green eyes, a sense of humor, aptitude for math or reading or music


sigh...

some of the batshit craziest people I ever knew were psychiatrists and psychologists...

[Skittles]

13. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE CURE FOR HOMOPHOBIA IS

YES INDEED

[donheld]

10. K & R & pissed

[begin_within]

11. If they think a person can be converted from gay to straight,

then I'd ask them to show how a person can be converted from straight to gay. If they know where the secret toggle switch is inside a person that can convert their orientation, they should prove it by converting someone the other direction, just to prove their theory.

[Richard Steele]

12. K&R

[Manifestor_of_Light]

14. Brings to mind a very old joke:

"My wife ran off with my best friend.

How can I get him back?"