Gays 'offered help to be straight'

[Bitter Ashes]

(I hate the word gay bieng used as a noun, but that's what the article was called *sighs*)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090326/tuk-gays-offered-help-to-be-straight-6323e80.html



A significant number of psychiatrists and therapists are trying to help lesbian or gay patients become heterosexual, according to research. Skip related content (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090326/tuk-gays-offered-help-to-be-straight-6323e80.html#ynw-article-part2)
Related photos / videos


http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/ne/pressass/20090326/04/3584639605-gays-offered-help-straight.jpg#200,200 Some psychiatrists are trying to help lesbian or gay patients become heterosexual, …



This is despite a lack of evidence that such treatments can be beneficial or even safe, the study in the journal BMC Psychiatry said.
The research found that one in six of the 1,400 mental health professionals surveyed reported having helped at least one patient curtail their gay, lesbian or bisexual feelings.
One in 25 psychiatrists or therapists said they would try to treat someone who was having such emotions if asked today.
Professor Michael King, from University College London, who worked on the study, said: "There is very little evidence to show that attempting to treat a person's homosexual feelings is effective and, in fact, it can actually be harmful. So it is surprising that a significant minority of practitioners still offer this help to their clients."
One anonymous professional who took part in the study said they would help a patient if they held a religious belief that forbade homosexuality. Another said: "The individuals I have worked with have all been very unhappy about their sexuality and wish they were heterosexual."
Professor King now wants to raise awareness amongst those trying to treat homosexuality.
He added: "The best approach is to help people adjust to their situation, to value them as people and show them that there is nothing whatever pathological about their sexual orientation. Both mental health practitioners and society at large must help them to confront prejudice in themselves and in others."
Academics at St George's, University of London, helped compile the research, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust. A new website - www.treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk (http://www.treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk) - is also being set up where those who have received such treatment, as well as those who have administered it, can provide their own views.
Derek Munn, director of public affairs at Stonewall, the gay and lesbian equality organisation, said: "So-called gay cure therapies are wholly discredited. The conclusions of this research are a welcome reminder that what lesbian and gay people need is equal treatment by society, not misguided treatment by a minority of health professionals."Grrr. Even doctors will go against thier hypocratic oath in order to make money it seems >.<
Is anyone immune to this lure of cash under capitalism? :cursing:
Got to love the word "help" too huh?

[RedAnarchist]

Some people still live in the 1950s I see. Homosexuality is natural, it isn't a disorder or illness.

[mykittyhasaboner]

Disgusting, I honestly do not understand why people even give a fuck if someone is homosexual or not.

[Sean]

In fairness to some of the shrinks, some of these people have come to them distraught with the way society percieves them and are asking to be 'cured'. These are people with mental issues, shrinks aren't running around putting them in vans. But yeah, its complete bullshit quack medicine, and explaining to them that its ok to be gay and that they should accept that is the best way forward.

[Bitter Ashes]

I just get the feeling this is like when you take your car for an MOT and the mechanics give you a list of a hundred and one parts that require immediate replacement/repair, even when there's clearly nothing wrong with it.
If somebody is becoming distraught because of how people have treated them for bieng gay, they dont need a shrink. What they need is people they can talk to and support in the short term and in the long term for the actual homophobic issues to be dealt with.
There are other issues too, like internalised homophobia which I've witnessed. The same approach is needed. Not some doomed-to-failure, unethical, ex-gay camp so that they can go about thier lala homophobic ways pretending to be straight.
Thankfully, there's not any of those ex-gay camps in the UK that I'm aware of, although my heart goes out to anyone in the States that got thrown into one by thier parents. :(

[Poison]

Let's offer minorities a "cure" then...that's no different. :|

[Hyacinth]

These people—like all other pseudoscientific hacks pretending to be doctors, who are harming and profiting off of the suffering of others—should be punished. Might I suggest a round of reeducation in a Siberian corrective labour camp; they seem to be in favor of such reeducation measures, surely they couldn't object.

[Oneironaut]

One of my old roommates is homosexual and he was put through this process on his own accord. He comes from an evangelical christian family that basically made him feel sub-human and as a result, went to "get-straight" summer camp run by these fanatics. Needless to say, he had constant sexual relations with other men who went to the camp for the same purpose. He is now happier than ever with his sexuality.

On a side note, he came out of this experience as an atheist and an anti-capitalist.

[Dr Mindbender]

I wonder if vets will be offering the same service to the countless variety of animal species that also display homosexual urges?

:rolleyes:

[Dimentio]

That poises an interesting question. If a person is disgusted with something with herself that is not unnatural, do doctors have the right to "correct that", like for example sexual feelings?

[Sean]

That poises an interesting question. If a person is disgusted with something with herself that is not unnatural, do doctors have the right to "correct that", like for example sexual feelings?
In the cases of rapists, pedophiles and zoophilia I would say yes, because they harm others. But if the question is whether doctors have any right to change a person's behaviour to meet the desires of that person, then you'd have to rule out personal motivators, self-improvement gurus etc too.

[brigadista]

how ridiculous - surely if you are gay you are gay -simple as,,this is quite pertubing -behaviour modification for natural behaviour that cannot be modified - how can you MAKE someone heterosexual??? I think that Professor King has the best approach here- another piece of useless research posing as "significant"..

[Stranger Than Paradise]

This is sick. Really sick.

[Pogue]

Some people with dicks like people with dicks. Deal with it and fucking move onto the more important things in life.

Oh, and some people with vaginas like people with vaginas. You could skip that one too, because uite frankly who gives a shit.

[Invincible Summer]

This is just like those Christian conferences that talk about how "Homosexuality is a sin" and features "ex-homosexuals" who "thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ" has turned straight.
They go on to condemn their "previous sinful lifestyle" and all that. It's terrible... and obviously they weren't that gay to begin with if they just switched teams like that.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

In fairness to some of the shrinks, some of these people have come to them distraught with the way society percieves them and are asking to be 'cured'. These are people with mental issues, shrinks aren't running around putting them in vans. But yeah, its complete bullshit quack medicine, and explaining to them that its ok to be gay and that they should accept that is the best way forward.

This is what seems to be the case (I've heard of such through acquaintances, I've never had any personal experience with LGBT who felt the need to be 'corrected' or anything like that).

What we have to remember is that there are a lot of people who, unfortunately for them, are not comfortable with their sexual desires due to the environment they've been raised in. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure that the largest cause of teenage suicide are issues concerning their sexual 'deviance.'

It is too simple just to blame these professionals for this, some of whom no doubt also attempt to help homosexual men and women (and boys and girls) come to terms with their sexual desires and understand there is nothing wrong with them.

[Rjevan]

Disgusting, I honestly do not understand why people even give a fuck if someone is homosexual or not.
^This. The only ones who need to be "cured" are those narrow-minded idiots who don't get over the fact that some people have other preferences than themselves.
This is one thing I hate so much about the fascists: this massive intolerance against people who are totally harmless but don't fit into their view of the world.
And indulging homophobia and claiming that homosexuals are "mentally ill" and need to be cured from their disease, like e.g. the church does, is a basic fascist attitude.

[redSHARP]

i want to go to one of these "straight camps". just to see what these sick fucks are up to. these right wingers should be put into a "cure camp" so they come out as nice little leftists!:tt2:

[Bitter Ashes]

i want to go to one of these "straight camps". just to see what these sick fucks are up to. these right wingers should be put into a "cure camp" so they come out as nice little leftists!:tt2:
But I'm a cheerleader!

[Devrim]

One of my old roommates is homosexual and he was put through this process on his own accord. He comes from an evangelical christian family that basically made him feel sub-human and as a result, went to "get-straight" summer camp run by these fanatics. Needless to say, he had constant sexual relations with other men who went to the camp for the same purpose. He is now happier than ever with his sexuality.

This really made me laugh. It isn't even logical by its own standards. I can imagine for gays growing up in small town US, it is quite difficult to be open and to meet men who are also gay. I imagine it as being a very furtive secretive world.

But hey what do the evangelicals do-send them to "get-straight" summer camp. For many lonely kids it is possibly the nearest thing they could do to sending them to a gay dating agency.

Devrim

[black magick hustla]

Its not america - its even worse. From my understanding he is from mexico. mexico is ridicoulously homphobic, i am not kidding. i have a lot of mexican friends who are gay but they keep it as a very well kept secret. i cannot imagine what would their parents do to them if they realize they are gay. when i was in junior high, everybody knew this kid sucked off another kid and there was a huge shitstorm. the poor kid attempted to kill himself. the grip on the population by the stupid catholic church does not help either.

[redSHARP]

This really made me laugh. It isn't even logical by its own standards. I can imagine for gays growing up in small town US, it is quite difficult to be open and to meet men who are also gay. I imagine it as being a very furtive secretive world.

But hey what do the evangelicals do-send them to "get-straight" summer camp. For many lonely kids it is possibly the nearest thing they could do to sending them to a gay dating agency.

Devrim

true:) but the camp is very strict and bullshit like that.

[Julian Carax]

I'm from the damn bible belt.

You should have heard the horrible things baptists said about homosexuals when the film Milk came out.

Christ, more and more, the hatred towards gay people is spreading.

"Get-Straight" Summer Camps?

Its not like they have a disease.

When is the stupidity going to stop?

[Apollo]

Will these narrow minded assholes ever learn that it is not up to them to decide how other people should live their lives and as for those who have just come out the last thing they want is to be told how there going to hell and are evil for their sexual preferences

[hugsandmarxism]

This thread reminds me of something (http://www.hulu.com/watch/61260/family-guy-straight-camp)...

Anyhow, this is pretty disgusting.

[Bitter Ashes]

This thread reminds me of something (http://www.hulu.com/watch/61260/family-guy-straight-camp)...

Anyhow, this is pretty disgusting.
... but I'm a cheerleader! :crying:

[Young-and-angry]

Great, the more we hear about "help" and "curing" homosexuality, the more society thinks it's unnatural and wrong....

They can "help" gays by fucking off.

[PeaderO'Donnell]

Great, the more we hear about "help" and "curing" homosexuality, the more society thinks it's unnatural and wrong....

They can "help" gays by fucking off.

Is not homosexuality illegal in Cuba and indeed was it not illegal or at least no socially tolerated in most of the former "Socialist" camp?

Having lived in former Leninist countries the level of hatred for homosexuals there was something frightening maybe because Ireland generally has now an openly (in the past a secretly) tolerant attitude towards that behaviour.

Do many western Left or Ultra-left organizations still view homosexuality as a sexual perversion arising out of social decadence?

[Invincible Summer]

Do many western Left or Ultra-left organizations still view homosexuality as a sexual perversion arising out of social decadence?

I'm not an expert on homosexual history in former Marxist-Leninist countries, so I can't answer the first few questions, but regarding this one, I think it would be very reactionary for "left" and "ultra-left" orgs to still hold that sort of viewpoint today, especially since people from any sort of social background can be homosexual and not just people who live in "decadence."

We have to keep in mind the historical context in which these sort of opinions manifested. For instance, fighting for "workers" did not necessarily mean workers of color, as the societies of Marx, Lenin, Proudhon, etc were most likely homogeneous in racial/ethnic aspect. I'm not saying they were racist, but given the lack of exposure to visual minorities, one can imagine how xenophobic attitudes could have arisen.

I don't know where I was going with that last part...

[Rosa Provokateur]

Mainstream health organizations critical of conversion therapy include the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of School Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the National Education Association. No mainstream medical organization endorses conversion therapy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparative_therapy#Overview

[Rosa Provokateur]

Do many western Left or Ultra-left organizations still view homosexuality as a sexual perversion arising out of social decadence?

The Revolutionary Communist Party, USA

[Coggeh]

Is not homosexuality illegal in Cuba and indeed was it not illegal or at least no socially tolerated in most of the former "Socialist" camp?

The position of homosexuality in Cuba was at a time , a grave injustice but we have to be straight with the facts(totally intended pun) the position in Cuba nowadays has radically changed , civil unions for lgbt couples are on the cards and are almost certainly going to get passed .

In cuba you can even get a sex change operation plus all the documentation changes etc for free . Its the height of progression when it comes to this section of society which is transgendered people.

While their are criticisms to be made of Cuba we have to be realists , no one here calls Cuba a paradise (well not any rational people here do ) but in contrast to their neighbours and many countries in the "first world" Cuba far exceeds them in terms of minority , gender and sexual orientation rights .




Do many western Left or Ultra-left organizations still view homosexuality as a sexual perversion arising out of social decadence?
Their maybe the odd nationalist leftist movements or authortarian leftist movements which might not be on the ball when it comes to the rights of homosexuality . But for the most part (98% of the time) no , no they don't.

[Hoxhaist]

this is a horrible scam for parents scared by Fox News into thinking little Johnny is gay. this is a side effect of the anti-gay marriage stuff, people are afraid homosexuality is spreading like wildfire and some people are taking advantage of the fear for a profit

[PeaderO'Donnell]

this is a horrible scam for parents scared by Fox News into thinking little Johnny is gay. this is a side effect of the anti-gay marriage stuff, people are afraid homosexuality is spreading like wildfire and some people are taking advantage of the fear for a profit

Wasnt there supposed to be no homosexuality in socialist Albania?

[Pogue]

(I hate the word gay bieng used as a noun, but that's what the article was called *sighs*)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090326/tuk-gays-offered-help-to-be-straight-6323e80.html

Grrr. Even doctors will go against thier hypocratic oath in order to make money it seems >.<
Is anyone immune to this lure of cash under capitalism? :cursing:
Got to love the word "help" too huh?

If a male psychiatrist told me he wanted to try and 'cure me' and make me straight, I'd move forward and grab his arse while passionately snogging him with my tongue down his throat, then say no thanks and walk out.

[Jazzratt]

If a male psychiatrist told me he wanted to try and 'cure me' and make me straight, I'd move forward and grab his arse while passionately snogging him with my tongue down his throat, then say no thanks and walk out.

Good way to get done for sexual assault, that is. I'd try something more subtle like asking if we can continue the session over a nice glass of wine and a meal, then continually hit on the guy until it is clear that he's not "helping" and/or he reciprocates.

[Refounder]

Umh, this reminds me of a psychologist that tried to persuade me that I was mental ill. Actually she was more a theodem then a psychologist, and I couldn't help but laugh at her comments

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Umh, this reminds me of a psychologist that tried to persuade me that I was mental ill. Actually she was more a theodem then a psychologist, and I couldn't help but laugh at her comments

What did she say? I'm genuinely curious.

[Revy]

The Revolutionary Communist Party, USA

That's wrong. The RCP used to be reactionary on that but they did a complete 180 and now are very outspokenly pro-gay.

[Oneironaut]

Its not america - its even worse. From my understanding he is from mexico. mexico is ridicoulously homphobic, i am not kidding. i have a lot of mexican friends who are gay but they keep it as a very well kept secret. i cannot imagine what would their parents do to them if they realize they are gay. when i was in junior high, everybody knew this kid sucked off another kid and there was a huge shitstorm. the poor kid attempted to kill himself. the grip on the population by the stupid catholic church does not help either.

Actually this incident did occur in the US. I am between the two. But the homophobia in Mexico does supercede that of the US.

[Rosa Provokateur]

If a male psychiatrist told me he wanted to try and 'cure me' and make me straight, I'd move forward and grab his arse while passionately snogging him with my tongue down his throat, then say no thanks and walk out.

Mmm, he'd have to be cute. Gotta have standars hun otherwise bad reputation starts and people think you're easy =/