NORTH BAY BOH EM I AN | MAY 1 6 – 22, 20 1 2 | BO H E M I AN.COM
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Ex-Gay ( 9 wounds from childhood cause men and women to become gender-confused, which leads them to cannibalize their Godgiven gender identity by having same-gender sex. Sound bogus? It should. The theories driving ex-gay programs have been rejected by just about every major professional mental health organization. But that hasn’t prevented pastors, preachers, parents, “life coaches,” let alone licensed mental health professionals, from pushing ex-gay therapies, also known as “reparative” therapy or sexualorientation change efforts (SOCE), on confused or misled youth and adults. “Closeted, highly religious LGBT clients are often plagued by deep shame and fear. When they reach out for help, they usually turn to someone within their religious community, such as a pastoral counselor or therapist,” says Lisa Maurel, a licensed marriage and family therapist who opposes therapy designed to change someone’s sexual orientation. “Too often, because this professional adheres to the myths of SOCE, they reinforce stereotypes and shame-binding messages about sexuality to a client who is already vulnerable and afraid.” Ex-gay programs started in the 1970s. They formed as a Christcentered response to the growing gay rights movement. In 1973, the same year that the American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Love in Action, the first ex-gay ministry, formed in San Rafael. Today, several major ex-gay umbrella groups exist, but they have trouble agreeing on their techniques. For example, as part of the weekend retreat I attended, guides had us practice “healing touch” therapy. I sat on the floor between the outstretched legs of one man and leaned back against his chest while other men placed their hands on my arms and legs. (This position was
called “the Motorcycle.”) But in a policy statement, the largest ex-gay umbrella group, Exodus International, opposes “the therapeutic practice commonly referred to as ‘holding/touch therapy’ as a healing exercise for those with same-sex-attraction distress.” Perhaps they find it counterproductive to their goals. On Tuesday, the California Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 1172 to go before the full Senate sometime in June. The bill would ban psychotherapists from practicing SOCE on minors and require mental-health professionals to provide adults seeking SOCE a disclosure on the risk of harm, and to obtain that client’s informed consent. “Under the guise of a California license, some therapists are taking advantage of vulnerable people by pushing dangerous sexualorientation-change efforts,” says bill author State Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. “These bogus efforts have led in some cases to patients later committing suicide, as well as severe mental and physical anguish. This is junk science, and it must stop.” “For decades, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people— particularly youth—have suffered psychological abuse by those who are entrusted to care for their emotional and psychological wellbeing,” says Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California board president, which sponsored SB 1172. “It’s long past time to do everything in our power to put an end to the use of therapy tactics that have no sound scientific basis and that cause lifelong damage.” One of the most disturbing parts about attending ex-gay ministries was watching normal, happy, healthy people be convinced that something was deeply wrong with them. When a Christian counselor visited our support group in San Jose, one young man raised his hand and asked why he struggled with same-sex attraction when he had a strong, loving relationship with his parents. The counselor told him his same-sex attraction was evidence that his upbringing probably wasn’t as good as he thought.