One in Six Psychiatrists Has Tried to 'Turn Gays Straight'

The Independent has a new story that ought to shock medical licensing authorities in that it reveals one in six psychiatrists has tried to "cure" gays - even though every legitimate medical and mental health association holds that such cure attempts do not work and indeed can cause severe harm. Engaging in such witch doctor like cure efforts ought to constitute malpractice and put medical licenses at risk. Engaging in such quackery should be off limits to licensed medical and mental health professionals. It is bad enough that religious charlatans are allowed to market bogus programs that prey on families and LGBT individuals who have been taught self-hate by their unloving religious denominations. The article also goes on to recount the experience of one man who underwent shock therapy in an effort to "change." Here are some story highlights:

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Psychotherapists are offering to help "cure" gays and lesbians of their homosexuality without any evidence that such treatment is beneficial or safe. One in six said they had tried to turn gays straight, or reduce their gay or lesbian feelings, even though the mainstream medical view is that this is impossible.

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The idea that homosexuality can be cured has a long and dubious history and the disclosure that a significant minority of therapists and doctors still think it is possible is "worrying", Professor Michael King, of the University College Medical School, said. "Heaven knows what they do. We didn't attempt to ask them because there is no evidence that anything works. We didn't expect it to be happening at this rate and we are really rather concerned. It ought to stop. It is distressing and harmful and there is absolutely no evidence it works," he said.

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Pressure from clients demanding help because of bullying or discrimination or family pressures may have pushed the therapists into delivering it, the professor said. . . . Instead, the therapist should be saying that it is very unfortunate they are being bullied and that they can try to help them come to terms with their situation and learn to cope with it."

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Derek Munn, of the gay rights organisation Stonewall, said: "So-called gay cure therapies are wholly discredited. The conclusions of this research are a welcome reminder that what gay and lesbian people need is equal treatment by society, not misguided treatment by a minority of health professionals."