APA "Ex-gay" Symposium Canceled

I had previously posted about an ill advised (at least in my view) plan to have a symposium on "ex-gay" therapy at the APA's upcoming annual convention. Christianist ex-gay therapy quacks like Warren Throckmorton who suck monies from parents trying to "cure" their children had been pushing for the symposium. No doubt they planned to somehow twist the fact that the symposium had been held to lend legitimacy to fraudulent 's ex-gay "ministries." Fortunately, the symposium has been cancelled and this propaganda tool has been taken awy from Throckmorton, et al. Here are highlights from today's Washington Blade:

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A controversial symposium that was supposed to look at the relationship between religion and homosexuality has been canceled. The symposium, put together by some American Psychiatric Association members, caused consternation among some psychiatrists and gays, who argued that holding a dialogue with hostile figures would legitimize homophobic views. The forum was titled “Homosexuality and Therapy: the Religious Dimension” and was supposed to take place Monday in Washington.

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Warren Throckmorton, a counselor known for helping patients in efforts to alter homosexual behavior, was slated to speak at the event. The Grove City, Pa.,-based counselor said he was disappointed that the forum was no longer scheduled.

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The event caused some discontent among other APA psychiatrists. Jack Drescher, a gay New York City-based psychiatrist and former chair of the APA committee on gay issues, said association members organizing the forum did not appear to understand “how conversion therapists and their supporters on the religious right use these appearances as a public relations event to try and legitimize what they do.”

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Controversy surrounding the event had prompted a gay religious figure who was scheduled to speak to cancel his appearance. Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop by the Episcopal Church, said he canceled his plans to attend because he came to believe that making an appearance would validate the concept that sexual orientation can be changed.