As the Washington Blade is reporting (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/3-7/news/national/12187.cfm), a coalition led by the American Psychological Association ("APA") sent a booklet, "Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation," to all 16,000 U. S. public school superintendants in February, arguing that schools should refrain from teaching high school students about “ex-gay” conversion therapy. "Just the Facts" includes the most recent information from professional health organizations, as well as up-to-date information on the legal responsibility of school officials to protect students from anti-gay harassment.Members of the coalition are:
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Association of School Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American School Health Association, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Education Association and the School Social Work Association of America.
A copy of the booklet which can be downloaded and printed is here: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.pdf I have already e-mailed the link to my pastor. Needless to say, the hate mongerers of the Christian Right are having fits that legitimate medical and mental health organizations are by this act opposing the peddling of quack science and other untruths which make up the essence of "ex-gay" and reparative therapy programs. In my view, the APA and state licensing organizations should revoke the licenses of any clinicians that participate in these fraudulent programs. Moreover, the states need to regulate ALL organizations that purport to engage in what are in effect mental health counseling activities so that quacks and religious nut jobs do not escape regulation by pretending to be religious "ministries."
As the Blade article points out, "Just the Facts" correctly states that teaching about “ex-gay” therapy would be unconstitutional since it is in effect teaching religion and imposing religious views, thus violating the separation of church and state because “ex-gay” beliefs are in the final analysis based solely on religious grounds. Teaching about “ex-gay” therapy also violates the 14th Amendment provision for equal treatment because, according to the booklet, such teaching could adversely impact gay students. Here are some highlights from the Blade article that look at the disingenuous hyperventalating by people such as David Duke/Klu Kluck Klan affiliated Tony Perkins at the Family Research Council and ex-gay for pay, Melissa Fryrear of Foucs on the Family:
Melissa Fryrear, a self-identified former homosexual and director of the gender issues department at Focus on the Family, called the publication “gay-affirming, biased [and] unfair.” Fryrear said the booklet is “demoralizing” for youths who do not want to identify as gay and yet experience homosexual feelings. Students, particularly those of faith, should be able to know about other opportunities, she said.
Tony Perkins, president of the über-conservative Family Research Council, had harsh words for the booklet.In an interview with the Christian Post, an online religious news agency, Perkins reiterated his long-held position that the NEA and the APA are “using their influence to transform public schools into incubators for their radical social agendas.”
As if either one of them gives a damn about LGBT students. Melaissa and Tony, let's be honest for a change: It's all about money and the Christianist political agenda.
One other thing to be noted is the credibility of the APA versus the false experts and quacks always cited by the anti-gay organizations, e.g., Melissa Fryrear and Tony Perkins. Despite her title which is intended to impress the unwary, Fryrear has no real credentials in the areas of medicine and/or mental health. Her only cited degree on her biography is a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary which offers NO medical or mental health related degrees. As for Perkins, his biographical information on the FRC website reads as follows: A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a former police officer and television news reporter; he received his undergraduate degree from [Jerry Falwell's] Liberty University and a Master's Degree from Louisiana State University in Public Administration. In May 2006 he received an honorary doctorate in Theology from Liberty University. Once again NO legitimate and/or relevant credentials. Sadly, the mainstream media NEVER EVER asks frauds like Fryrear and Perkins about their total lack of medical/mental health credentials. They are simply given a free pass and allowed to pontificate leaving the uninformed to think they have a legitimacy that they in fact they totally lack. Who do you think is more credible and who cares more about LGBT individuals? Here is a description of the APA:
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.
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