APA: Stop Ex-Gay Therapy

The country's leading authority on psychology is urging therapists not to tell clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or treatment.

Judith M. Glassgold, PsyD, chair of the American Psychological Association's task force on the matter, said there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation.

"At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions," Glassgold said in a statement on Wednesday. "Yet, these studies did not indicate for whom this was possible, how long it lasted, or its long-term mental health effects. Also, this result was much less likely to be true for people who started out only attracted to people of the same sex."

A task force on so-called reparative therapy was started in 2007, to update the APA's 1997 study on changing one's sexual orientation. The task force examined 83 peer-reviewed journal articles ranging from 1960 to 2007. However, it was found that many studies had serious flaws, and few could even be considered "methodically sound, and none systematically evaluated potential harms."

The APA suggested that since many undergo such therapy for religious reasons, some should consider switching churches, or celibacy.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, reacted with accolades to the news today.

"Homophobia, bias, and discrimination are what make it difficult for people to accept and be open about their sexual orientation," he said. "We have to change hearts and minds, not our sexual orientation, and we are hopeful that the position of the APA helps to heal those who have been hurt by rejection and betrayal, and to foster greater awareness, skills, and knowledge among mental health professionals."