What would you think about legislation that would prevent
you from seeking psychotherapeutic counseling for gambling or porn addiction?
Wouldn’t you think it absurd to legislate against this kind of help in light of
the fact that psychotherapy is supposed to be a helping profession? You would
therefore ask, “How can you turn me away when I come to you for help?” However,
this is just what a new bill before the California Senate is proposing:
- A California Senate committee today advanced SB 1172, a bill that would help protect citizens from harmful, ineffective ex-gay therapy. The law does not outright ban all ex-gay therapy, but it does prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from undergoing sexual orientation change efforts
“Ineffective?” I know many people who claim to have profited
from sexual-reorientation counseling. Some have even gone on to marry. The gay
community and its promoters can only claim that it doesn’t work by denying the
many findings that contradict their claim. And this is the very thing that they
have done. They have silenced the voices of groups like Parents and Friends of ex-Gays (PFOX) and have successfully
prevented them from even running ads by charging that they are disseminating “hate-speech.”
Ironically, it is the gay lifestyle promoters who are the bullies and the
haters.
Instead, there is a wealth of data in favor of ex-gay
therapy. Just check out NARTH.com. However, even if there wasn’t, who should
blame or withhold help from those who want to flee or at least resist a
lifestyle associated with so many well-established personal costs – severely
heightened rates of suicide, depression, mental illness, substance abuse, and
greatly diminished life-spans, even within those nations most favorably disposed
to homosexuality!
This bill would be more acceptable if it addressed moral
wrongs. If instead, it prohibited supportive counseling for those seeking
supportive counseling to enable them to have an adulterous affair, this would
be understandable. In such a case psychotherapy would serve to promote societal
ills.
Likewise, if this bill prohibited supportive counseling for
an adolescent who wanted a sex change, it could more easily be justified. Sex
change is radical, almost-irreversible, long-term effects are questionable,
social consequences are considerable, and it violates the natural - our DNA.
However, California
is willing – even clamoring – to promote physical sex-change. Ironically, the California legislature
is entirely in favor of “choice” in this regard, but not when a child wants to
exercise choice to deal with same-sex attraction (SSA)!
Although this proposed bill doesn’t prohibit adults from
receiving counseling to deal with SSA, it coerces the potential client to
endure waves of propaganda:
- It also requires that any prospective patient sign an informed consent form that includes the following disclaimer: Having a lesbian, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation is not a mental disorder. There is no scientific evidence that any types of therapies are effective in changing a person’s sexual orientation. Sexual orientation change efforts can be harmful. The risks include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior.
However, this disclaimer should also specify the same risks
for those who remain in the gay lifestyle: “The risks include, but are not
limited to, depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior.” By refusing to
see that these same risks are endemic to the gay lifestyle, whenever the gay
person experiences negative consequences, the fault is attributed to ex-gay
therapy without any consideration that the consequences might have stemmed
directly from the lifestyle.
Nevertheless, I think that we need to be sensitive and
compassionate with gay people. They sincerely believe that their problems are
the result of an ever-shrinking band of religious fundamentalists who do not
approve of their lifestyle, instead of their own God-given conscience not
approving. As such, their battle is not against the “Fundies” but essentially against
themselves.
I read somewhere that the living example of an ex-gay is seen as "homophobic" to the GLBT crowd.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me as odd at first, but now the GLBT's anger at ex-gays makes sense.
Truth,
DeleteIt's a pity that our press also victimizes those who claim that leaving the gay life. Meanwhile, they vehemently protest the bullying of gays!
Mann: Nevertheless, I think that we need to be sensitive and compassionate with gay people.
ReplyDeleteThis thought, and your other comments concerning homosexuality appear to be in opposition Daniel.
Mann: They sincerely believe that their problems are the result of an ever-shrinking band of religious fundamentalists who do not approve of their lifestyle, instead of their own God-given conscience not approving.
This seems to be a question which is open to empirical confirmation/falsification.
In fact, the literature (some of which I have presented to you in the past) appears to lean on the "falsification" side of things, since homosexuals, when removed from the bigotry of the surrounding society, don't seem to suffer from problems of conscience.
Mann: As such, their battle is not against the “Fundies” but essentially against themselves.
No Daniel. The battle is indeed with people like yourself, since you are unable to accept the empirical evidence in front of your face, and continue to promote your false claims and beliefs.
I will try to set aside your groundless personal attacks with just a word. You have no basis whatsoever to charge me with not being compassionate towards LGBT people. As a Christian, this is my pledge – to love others. If you continue to make such charges, you will no longer be welcome at this blog.
ReplyDeleteWhile we both agree that the health stats regarding gays are tragic, you maintain the hope that these might simply reflect their lack of social acceptance. However, let me just mention several reasons why this hope is not tenable:
1. We find the same stats in countries where gays are better accepted than in the USA.
2. Gays are largely accepted within their own circles. They even find more acceptance than Christians in the media, universities, and even many employers.
3. Among groups which don’t find social acceptance in the larger society, we don’t find anything near the same tragic stats. Christians are hated and despised in many societies, but they are not suiciding.
4. Ex-gays report that they knew that their lifestyle was wrong, and consequently they struggled with a host of psychological problems.
5. From our personal experience, we know that revolving sex is not good for the psyche.
6. The medical/disease issues can’t be blamed on a non-accepting society.
7. Domestic violence also seems to be endemic to the gay life. This also can’t be blamed on a non-accepting society. Instead, the common threat might or should serve as a bonding factor.
You are comparing gambling and porn addiction to homosexuality?
ReplyDeleteAs a proud member of the so-called gay community, I find it very strange why someone would offer people "ex-gay therapy". When someone comes out as gay, they often do that after having lived as heterosexuals for some time (often years). I would never advice anyone to go on "ex-straight therapy". That's just silly. And so is ex-gay therapy. If someone, after many years of identifying as gay, realises that they are straight, good for them. It's a wonderful thing when you realise who you truly are. Equally, I'm happy for people who realise they are gay after a life of denial. Everyone deserves to be happy. Stop being so afraid, we're all people and we all find our own ways to happiness. And... Ever heard of bisexuality? People are not "either straight or gay!". Identity is very complex, and so is love and attraction. The world is not black and white.
And by the way, I don't exclusively belong to a gay community. I belong to a greater community of all sorts of people. And I don't see myself as an "ex-straight". That will be utterly ridiculous. I see myself as me, myself, all the time. Sorry to break this to you, but you're not turning into a different person once you realise that you are gay. You're still the same person, just a bit closer to yourself.
"you're not turning into a different person once you realise that you are gay. You're still the same person, just a bit closer to yourself."
ReplyDeleteI would never suggest this. Besides, we all have all sorts of drives - some of which are not too nice. Being me doesn't mean that I have to act upon these drives, whether jealousy or revenge... However, I think that we need to be real with ourselves about these temptations.
I might be tempted to commit adultery. However, I am no less me if I decide to not submit to the temptation.
Likewise, people with SSA are no more authentic by acting upon these attractions. Would you deny them the support of counseling if they choose to resist these temptations?
The issue of homosexuality in religion is further evidence that all religions are man made at a time when our scientific understanding of the world and everything in it was in its infancy.
ReplyDeleteHomosexuality is as natural as being left handed. Homosexuals have higher suicide rates because of ignorant people like yourself, even within liberal societies like the U.S. Many gays are thrilled to be gay, how do you explain that? Ex gay therapy is as ignorant as forcing left handed people to be right handed. I'm glad California passed that bill.
You claim the gay lifestyle leads to "severely heightened rates of suicide, depression, mental illness, substance abuse, and greatly diminished life-spans." So does living close to the north pole. And where are your sources for these "facts". There is nothing about the gay lifestyle itself that decreases their lives so long as they do everything in moderation. I can guarantee you that the more homosexuals become accepted, the less problems we will see in their community.
The same argument can be made about African Americans having higher rates of various problems because they live in a culture hostile towards their very existence even when they have local support amongst themselves.
It is a good thing that people like you are on the losing end of the argument.
Michael,
DeleteOrdinarily, I wouldn’t have published this response. It is condescending and dismissive: “people like you,” “Homosexuals have higher suicide rates because of ignorant people like yourself.” However, I perceive that you are concerned with truth, and I don’t want to cut conversation off.
Nevertheless, your response was incendiary, blaming homosexual suicide on “ignorant people like yourself.” This type of language fuels the hate and intolerance that is already at a high in our highly polarized society.