MPIPP Newsletter
Vol. 2, Issue 7
MPIPP UPDATE
MPIPP was busy in April....
The Alliance of LGBTQ students at Michigan State University sponsored a forum on "reparative" therapy for all students as part of their kick off for Pride Week on April 12. Dr. Judith Kovach discussed current psychological research on the topic, including the potential emotional consequences for those who participate.
Co-presenter Patrick McAlvey (see our MPIPP Volunteer Profile in this issue) discussed his difficult experiences in "reparative" therapy. Patrick's YouTube video on this topic has been viewed over 18,000 times.
Sara Van Wormer has been actively working with the SAFE initiative at Macomb Community College. The program is designed to make the college more friendly and inclusive to LGBT staff and students. The group, under the leadership of Dr. Linda Bajdo, professor of psychology, is currently focusing efforts toward implementing an Equal Opportunity Employer statement for the school that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The president of the college has expressed his commitment toward supporting these efforts. We are also pleased to announce this partnership has resulted in the additional of several new names and faces to MPIPP including Dr. Bajdo, Lesley Lambright, Paulina Multhaupt, Kiefer Paterson, Alyssa Dudley and Vanessa Vojinov.
The Medical and Scientific Perspective on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
Even today, there continues to be social and religious prejudices against homosexual people in the US. The negative feelings produced by the stigma of these experiences, as well as encouragement by misinformed people and organizations, prompts some people to seek "reparative" therapy.
"Reparative" therapy is based on the concept that homosexuality can (and should be) cured.
However, for nearly 40 years, the scientific and medical communities -- as a result of numerous studies -- have affirmed that homosexuality is not a mental illness and does not need a "cure." In fact, a substantial amount of research supports that attempts to do so can be harmful to the individual.
What the major scientific experts are saying ...
Quality of supporting research for "reparative" therapy -- In a meta-analysis of 83 studies conducted by the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (APA, 2009), the task force noted the least rigorous studies generally attribute more positive outcomes of "reparative" therapy than do studies that meet peer-reviewed standards of scientific rigor.
The American Psychiatric Association said, "Further, therapeutic techniques to convert or "repair" homosexuality are not based on scientifically valid theories. There is sparse scientific data about selection criteria, risks versus benefits of the treatment, and long-term outcomes of "reparative" therapies.
Selection of treatment modality -- The American Psychiatric Association notes in its supporting materials for its 2000 Position Statement: "The 'reparative' therapy literature uses theories that make it difficult to formulate scientific selection criteria for their treatment modality."
The American Psychological Association's Task Force noted, "efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of sexual orientation change effort practitioners and advocates and that it is difficult to determine who may be successful or harmed as a result of this therapy." (APA, 2009, p.85)
Continued stigmatization -- According to the American Psychiatric Association, the "literature not only ignores the impact of social stigma in motivating efforts to cure homosexuality, it is a literature that actively stigmatizes homosexuality as well. 'Reparative' therapy literature also tends to overstate the treatment's accomplishments while neglecting any potential risks to patients."
Potential for harm -- Of particular importance from a mental health perspective is that subjective reports of "cures" are often met by just as many claims of psychological harm.
One study (Shido & Schroeder, 2002) of 202 reorientation therapy participants showed that many were severely harmed by the effort to change and experienced increased self-loathing, depression, and suicidal feelings. Furthermore, almost all of these participants eventually accepted a lesbian or gay identity after their sincere efforts to become heterosexual collapsed.
The US Surgeon General Concurred
Eight years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior (2001) said "there is no valid scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed." The report went on to say, "Sexual orientation is usually determined by adolescence, if not earlier (Bell et al, 1981), and there is no valid scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed (Haldeman, 1994; APA, 2000). Although the research is limited, transgendered persons are reported to experience similar problems. In their extreme form, these negative attitudes lead to antigay violence. Averaged over two dozen studies, 80 percent of gay men and lesbians had experienced verbal or physical harassment on the basis of their orientation, 45 percent had been threatened with violence, and 17 percent had experienced a physical attack (Berrill, 1992)."
Please note that many of these references cited within this newsletter also have extensive research citations:
American Psychological Association, Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation - Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force, 2009. http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.pdf
An online summary of the above 130-page report is also available at: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/sexual-orientation.aspx
American Psychiatric Association, Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation, (Reparative or Conversion Therapies), Position Statement, 2000. http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001.aspx
Shidlo, A. & Schroeder, M. (2002). Changing Sexual Orientation: A consumers' report. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(3): 249-259. http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2002-01066-003&CFID=6524171&CFTOKEN=55794154)
U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior (2001), p.6. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/sexualhealth/call.pdf
Professional Organization Statements on "Reparative" Therapy
Practically all major national professional organizations that are focused on mental health, physical health, or schools have issued position statements or policies that question or oppose "reparative" therapy.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION STATEMENTS ON "REPARATIVE" THERAPY
American Psychological Association (2009) - "The American Psychological Association reaffirms its position that homosexuality per se is not a mental disorder and opposes portrayals of sexual minority youths and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation...be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation." http://www.apa.org/about/governance/council/policy/sexual-orientation.aspx
American Psychiatric Association (1998) - "APA opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as "reparative" or "conversion" therapy, that is based on the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or is based on the a priori assumption that the patient should change his or her homosexual orientation." http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001.aspx
American Medical Association (2000) - "Our AMA opposes . . . the use of "reparative" or "conversion" therapy that is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation." http://www.clgs.org/official-statement-concerning-homosexuality-american-medical-association
In addition, associations provide ethical/practice guidelines such as the following:
National Association of Social Workers (1996) - "NASW believes social workers have the responsibility to clients to explain the prevailing knowledge concerning sexual orientation and the lack of data reporting positive outcomes with reparative therapy. NASW discourages social workers from providing treatments designed to change sexual orientation or from referring practitioners or programs that claim to do so." To order NASW Public Policy Statements: http://www.socialworkers.org/resources/abstracts/abstracts/lesbian.asp
American Counseling Association (1998) - "In 1999, the Governing Council adopted a statement "opposing the promotion of reparative therapy as a cure for individuals who are homosexual." The ACA Ethical Code notes that research does not support conversion therapy as an effective treatment modality and there is potential for harm when clients participate in conversion therapy. http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=b68aba97-2f08-40c2-a400-0630765f72f4
American School Counselor Association (1995, 2000, 2005, 2007) - "It is not the role of the professional school counselor to attempt to change a student's sexual orientation/gender identity but instead to provide support to LGBTQ students to promote student achievement and personal well-being." http://asca2.timberlakepublishing.com//files/PS_LGBTQ.pdf
MPIPP PROFILE: Patrick McAlvey
Patrick McAlvey is a busy guy. Currently, he is working on the gubernatorial campaign of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. Patrick says, "I love my job and am glad to be fighting for a candidate who is proud to be a strong ally to the LGBT community."
Volunteer work with
MPIPP:
With a Bachelor's Degree in Social work from Michigan State University, Patrick has been involved with MPIPP volunteer meeting over a year ago. He has assisted in the writing of several viewpoints and letters to the editor related to anti-bullying legislation. This year Patrick was also a panelist speaking about effective communications at the 2010 MPIPP Annual Conference and discussed how he used YouTube to convey information about "reparative" therapy.
Speaking out as a survivor of "reparative" therapy:
"On the panel, I discussed speaking out in August 2009 as a survivor of 'ex-gay' reparative therapy. In a YouTube video released in partnership with a national advocacy group I shared my story of a decade of involvement with an 'ex-gay' therapist and warned of the psychological damage done by such organizations." The YouTube video has been viewed by more than 18,000 people.
Patrick is continuing to work with national organizations to raise awareness of the existence and the dangers of the "ex-gay" industry and reparative therapy. He says, "The bizarre treatment I received at the age of 19 included holding therapy, prolonged hugs, intimate questions about genital size and suggestions to use handyman tools to become more masculine."
Patrick's story has been shared in LGBT newspapers and blogs around the country and he has spoken to groups in Iowa, New York and Michigan - including a speaking engagement as part of Michigan State University's 2010 Pride Week.
Patrick's visible stand has had results. "Since I spoke out against him and his organization, "ex-gay" therapist Mike Jones of Corduroy Stone in Lansing, has seen his Board of Directors dissolve and Exodus International (national ex-gay referral organization) remove their affiliation."
Here are some of Patrick's favorite quotes:
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
"Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy." - Tim Hansel