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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

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Climate Skeptics:
Hacked Emails
Prove We're Right

Scientist talks about adding a 'trick' to graph

Nov 21, 09 10:37 AM CST
College Threatens to Fail Students for Obesity

Twenty-five seniors must prove they've lost weight to graduate

Nov 21, 09 11:25 AM CST
Fla. Man to Smoke
115,000th Joint

Feat earns him world record for cannabis consumption

Nov 20, 09 10:32 AM CST
Hadron Collider
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After 14 months of repairs, proton beams circulate

Nov 20, 09 6:06 PM CST
TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

McConnell:
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at 2010 Peril

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This Bud's for You:
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the Grade

Marijuana mist, croissants on tap in 1st legal establishment

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cheers

Alcohol Good
for Men's Hearts

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Nov 19, 09 10:59 AM CST
The Tuna on Your Plate May Be Endangered

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h1n1 outbreak

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PALEONTOLOGISTS SAY

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3 new species unearthed from Sahara include DogCroc

Nov 20, 09 1:12 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Therapy to 'Cure' Gays Is Bogus: Shrinks

By Jason Farago| Posted Aug 6, 09 6:56 AM CDT|

(Newser) – Claims that sexual orientation can be changed through therapy have no scientific credibility, finds a new report by the American Psychological Association. The group reviewed 83 journal articles published over several decades and found that many studies purporting to show successful changed sexuality "contain serious design flaws." The APA tells mental health professionals to instruct their patients that they cannot change their sexual orientation—already the widely held consensus.

"Scientifically rigorous older studies in this area found that sexual orientation was unlikely to change due to efforts designed for this purpose," the report says. "At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions," but that research ignores "long-term mental health effects," including depression and suicide attempts.

Military personnel join the annual gay parade organized by Pride London, July 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori)

A marcher waves the rainbow flag along Market Street during the San Francisco's 39th annual gay pride parade on June 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Ted Haggard, the evangelical pastor who solicited a male prostitute, appears on CNN's Larry King Live in Los Angeles Thursday Jan. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/ Kyle Christy/CNN)

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37 comments

VIEWING:

Reader64481089
Aug 6, 09 7:08 AM CDT

I didn't need a Shrink to tell me this was total b/s just to obtain funding for studies as well as a steady pay check. Some are born Gay and some are born Straight for what ever reason, learn to accept, enjoy who and what we are as loving giving people and move on in life. Overcome our own self loathing and be who we are meant to be. Reply

+19

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:01 PM CDT

And regardless, the religious right will still have a few toads in the various psych branches who will claim otherwise and they will still attempt to convert and they will still claim success when they manage to get some "ex" gay guy and "ex" gay woman to get married and pretend they are both converted when they are actually only monogamous, if that...

| 0 minutes ago

ArtfullyViscious
Aug 6, 09 7:31 AM CDT

NO WAY??? Reeeeeeallly? I'm happy to see this in print, but I'm equally frustrated that it HAS to be in print in order for others to understand how untrue it is. Let me explain: as a gay man, I've spent my whole life having to deal with being ostracized and seen as "morally corrupt." I can promise EACH OF YOU that this is NOT something I would have purposely brought upon myself for fun; none of us would have. With that being said, I have to wonder why any logical person would think that you can "un-train" a person's behavior or who they are if they didn't CHOSE to be that way in the first place. Aaaaannnnndddd cue the “Fag Hatin’ Harpies!” Reply

+13

IN RESPONSE:

Alan_Harrington
Aug 6, 09 10:18 AM CDT

artfully: i can only imagine how difficult growing up like that can be. i've had homeosexual friends when i was younger and witness a lot of the BS that they have to put up with from not only other kids, but their damn parents... but you don't see any way that someone can become/choose to be gay? what about bisexual? are people born that way, or can they learn that behavior over time from their peers and environment? i'm not saying it is cut and dry one way or another, all i'm saying is that it's possible for people to become gay, aka choose to be gay.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:08 PM CDT

Alan, I am sure there are some ferked up people out there who have "chosen" to be gay, such as abused women who now fear men, rebellious teenagers, etc. but guess what...they *aren't* gay, so what they are actually choosing is to engage in something that, whatever their motive, makes them feel better or powerful or whatever it is they seek. That's my opinion on it, anyway.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:11 PM CDT

And I thought of something else...many gays do not come out until they are much older. This will lead some people to think they chose to be gay, but in reality, they were pretending to be heterosexual for their own reasons whether it was fear of not being accepted or not wanting to hurt their families, etc.

| 0 minutes ago

littleoopie
Aug 6, 09 7:38 AM CDT

I agree with you Artfully...When we found out my cousin was gay my grandma was upset as if he chose it. She eventually got over it, but I told her, "Do you really think he would choose for people to look down on him?" Once she thought about what he must have been going through, it changed her mind. I'm proud that he felt strong enough to come out. He knew we'd still love him. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ArtfullyViscious
Aug 6, 09 7:43 AM CDT

Thank you Little, that made my day!!!! :)

IN RESPONSE:

ruserious
Aug 6, 09 9:02 AM CDT

That's awesome that your family was so supportive, littleoopie! We need more people like you in the world.

| 0 minutes ago

ruserious
Aug 6, 09 9:01 AM CDT

I've been trying to cure my brown hair through therapy, but it's just not working. Perhaps I should try harder to change myself? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Alan_Harrington
Aug 6, 09 9:06 AM CDT

as a disclaimer, i have nothing agaist gays or any part of the homosexual community. that being said, you dont think people can become gay, that they are just born gay? what about the people who were heterosexually married, with children, that leave their wives after 10 years because they discovered they are gay? i'm not necessarily saying it can be unlearned 100% of the time, but i would think if someone can discover their homosexuality, then someone could rediscover their heterosexuality. on a side note, what about all the girls that turned lesbian after they were done with me?! there's got to be a program for that.. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

bam
Aug 6, 09 9:25 AM CDT

yes that hetrophobic society does force a person to try genuinely to hide his straightness for the fear of losing his family for 10 years or so and even at the risk of losing his non-children he will be willing to turn straight even though its the tougher option of the two because he can no longer hide the stress of who he is ... yes makes perfect sense alan, atleast this is the same answer the medical society has to alternative medicine, use at your own risk

IN RESPONSE:

Alan_Harrington
Aug 6, 09 9:48 AM CDT

bam: wait, i'm not picking up what you mean by 'non-children'. are you saying that society forced him to marry, and forced him to have children? i was thinking more along the ines of he loved his wife and wanted to start a family. then, over time, realised he was begging to find the same sex appealing and gave that a go. it really seems to me that there is choice in the matter, at least after the parents are done raising their kids how ever they want by putting footballs or dolls in their cribs. once kids are in their prepubesent years, most start realising that they do have control over their likes and dislikes.. first experience with a girl or a boy. we do hold a certain amount of responsibility for the people we turn out to be, not everything is out of our control. nature, nurtue, media, society, religion are just some of the building blocks of a persons personality/sexuality.

IN RESPONSE:

Alan_Harrington
Aug 6, 09 9:50 AM CDT

*beginning not begging haha

IN RESPONSE:

bam
Aug 7, 09 11:29 AM CDT

though commenting here has a short half life, but you sounded like a nice guy and i feel i owe it to you to reply. speaking on behalf those i know and other accounts its more along the lines of they already knew it but they decided to hide it and burry it hoping that it will go away with time once they marry because it is what is expected of them from their family, friend and society and otherwise they will be shunned and lose a lot of people so they get married and they tend to have healthy marriage, mostly because they end up feeling guilty because they start to realize they will never really "love" their wives.. by then they have kids and they feel more guilty about that and then after they grow up some start accepting that they don't have long to live and they owe it to themselves to be true . thats just a generalization, but its pretty applicable i might say . The choice part is on the action front, not on how to feel and thats why the result of conversion therapy end up not acting upon it rather than changing how they feel.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Aug 7, 09 8:56 PM CDT

And just how many were there? Every last one is now a life long, committed dyke? What on earth did you DO to them?

| 0 minutes ago

Serenity
Aug 6, 09 9:19 AM CDT

I have a best-friend who was in denial about his orientation. He hit on woman, made gay jokes tried to play the part as best he could, he even lost his virginity to a woman. I knew, it was obvious and I was sad that he felt he had to hide it. His family is very old fashioned and he was afraid to tell them. He cried when he came out to me, I told him he had no more control over it than he had control over his shoe size. He said it was more real when he said it out loud and that he wanted to practice on me first and that he was happy he was in America because we are so understanding and open here. (I’m not joking about that!) I got to take him to his first gay bar, set him up on his first blind date, I was happy to help him and he is SO much happier now. His family loves him just the same too! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Serenity
Aug 6, 09 9:35 AM CDT

On another note, since homosexuality is genetic and there is a study that lesbians have a certain involuntary physical appearance, is there a link between the genes that promote sexual orientation and the ones that promote physical facial growth or cognitive recognition of facial features of someone of a different sexual orientation or am I grasping at straws? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ruserious
Aug 6, 09 10:30 AM CDT

There are studies that suggest there are hormone linkages to sexual orientation. Lesbians could have a higher ratio of testosterone to estrogen, and this can alter physical appearance. This altered ratio could be the result of a gene displacement, for example. There needs to be a lot more studies done on hormone balances, including looking at puberty-age children. I think that's a great question, and I have been in biology classes that have discussed it. I'm not really sure why you got a thumbs down for a thought-provoking question. I would also like to know more about it.

| 0 minutes ago

Yourself
Aug 6, 09 10:40 AM CDT

Ted Haggard, how ironic. he's so gay it's not even funny.. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

jamerican
Aug 6, 09 10:40 AM CDT

Gay therapy can work if the person has a desire to be normal again. The only reason that the psychologists are not agreeing is that they are a bunch of poliitcally correct pussys who don't want to take a moral stand. There are plenty of doctors and psychologists who agree with the original diagnosis that it is abnormal, and by the way most of the church and world still believes it is abnormal too, and a sin. But you gays keep looking for people to agree with you and you may eventually destroy any conscience God gave you and then you truly won't have to worry about it anymore. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

Alan_Harrington
Aug 6, 09 11:22 AM CDT

normal? you sound like an idiot radical christian. Didn't God make them they way they are? Or did God give them the "will" to choose their life style? either way, it's hypocritical brining God into it. We wouldn't be able to have any of these issues, good/bad, right/wrong without God's presence. and it's "pussies", instead of bible study where you pick out the most convienient parts to suit your beliefs, you should try out a grammar school. maybe even get your GED

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:24 PM CDT

jamaican, I don't need you to agree with me. I don't need you in any way. And it is my belief that all people who are against homosexuality are secretly homosexual and cannot admit or face it.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Aug 7, 09 9:00 PM CDT

Normal is a setting on your clothes dryer.

| 0 minutes ago

wwwonderer
Aug 6, 09 10:58 AM CDT

None of these studies will matter to the people that this issue matters to the most:religious fanatics. AFA they're concerned, this is just more SCIENCE mumbo jumbo. The reason the treatments haven't worked is because God was not in charge or involved. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:27 PM CDT

The main reason there is so much corruption amongst the churches, the reason that :::surprise::: the preacher is gay is because any preacher, priest, etc. who actually went to college and studied religion knows that religion is a tool with which people are controlled. That is why they have a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.

| 0 minutes ago

ruserious
Aug 6, 09 11:06 AM CDT

Yeah, BOO SCIENCE! Mumbo jumbo! When these psychologists went to medical school, they should have skipped all those wasteful science classes and gone to CHURCH. Then they would have their heads on straight. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Aug 6, 09 11:39 AM CDT

I honestly do have sympathy for homosexuals, but what they do is sinful and cannot be condoned. God designed us to be heterosexual, but for reasons both genetic and environmental about 2% of the population become misdirected in their sexuality. Since living as an active homosexual is contrary to God's commandments, gays would be much better off trying to reorient themselves. It would be well worth the price if they could find peace in a loving, heterosexual marriage and avoid being damned for their acts against nature. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:30 PM CDT

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Judge not lest ye be judged. How old were you when you decided you would be a heterosexual? Did you actually decide that or are you living in fear of what you really feel?

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Aug 6, 09 1:39 PM CDT

Another thing....if you are into the sin, god, bible thang...look at it this way. EVERYone is a sinner. If you are not a sinner, then you must be Jesus. If you can be honest and admit you are a sinner, then how can you judge one sin as worse than another? How do you do that? What do you use to decide that? We know it's not the 10 commandments since homosexuality is not included. And don't you ever wonder why not one of the 10 commandments addresses homosexuality? That ol' burning bush evidently was only concerned about where moses put his pecker if moses was married....

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Aug 6, 09 3:42 PM CDT

@Jayster999: What about gay animals? They are out there, isn't that God's design? Until God comes down here to set the record straight on this, lets keep him/her/it out of the discussion, he/she/it has a voice and will use it when he/she/it is ready. Lets get to the real heart of this situation... Personal Freedom. Who does it hurt if someone is gay, not the gay person, not you or me.

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Aug 6, 09 1:08 PM CDT

What a waste of time, money and energy. Let gay people be already. Instead of spending so much money trying to figure them out...spend the time, energy and money fighting to give them the same rights as the rest of us have. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Rocket448
Aug 6, 09 3:52 PM CDT

Way to go Snarfeh! Great posts! Your first one got me thinking that perhaps there is a gay lifestyle. I had abandoned that idea in the face of scientific evidence, but your examples have me thinking. You post on sin has really got me thinking, too. I've never found a single statement from Jesus that condemned homosexuality. Rather, his philosophy of love was quite open to differences. Only one New Testament writer got on the homosexual hobby-horse, and I sure won't take anyone's word that he was condemning it either. Biblical scholarship points out that Paul is condemning homosexual acts committed by heterosexual people. I'm sure that distinction is always overlooked by people who just can't stand homosexuals. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cognitivefilter
Aug 6, 09 5:47 PM CDT

word--what kind of 'news' is this? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kansas1946
Aug 6, 09 7:07 PM CDT

Of course sexual orientation can't be changed. Have you ever tried to change who or what appeals to you sexually. Not possible. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

SPH
Aug 6, 09 8:51 PM CDT

If just the posts on this thread are any reliable indication of"God's" will, I, for one, "would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints"........ Reply

| 0 minutes ago

newsrmandan
Aug 7, 09 2:07 PM CDT

Some perspectives on where Christians are coming from in their so called "hatred" for homosexuality: The bible is more then clear Gal 5 Mark 7 and I cor 6 all deal with homo sin. It is a list of other sins all equally not be overlooked: thefts, drunks, greed, idolatry, hatred, murders, and such like these. Take a closer look at these lists you will see something interesting, even though they are in the bible they all have outside the bible significance. Thefts (think Bernie Madoff) is dealt with via a civil law. Drunkeness usually frowned upon in general. Murderers get life in prison. Greed is (sorry Mr. Gecko) not good. But the most important thing about these passages is not the "sins" but the forgiveness of these sins. 1Cor 6:9-11 ends, after listing all these things, with "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God...... Paul was talking to a group of people who included some at least that were associated with all these things and thats where as a christian we stand. We were everything that that list accused us of, if we come off as hypocritical its because ( to our disservice) we are. Christians don't look down from high horses and pretend to be better then homosexuals we stand on our feet just like anybody else and thank God for saving us. Snarfeh... homosexual sin is not worse than any of the others and the others should be swept out with as much fervor. It is a reflection of the failure of mans ability not Gods. God never fails and there is nothing too big that he can't forgive. Including my pride, selfishness, greed, etc. ad infinidum. Or your _________, unbelief, hatred, greed, pride etc ad infin........ Reply

| 0 minutes ago

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Therapy to 'Cure' Gays Is Bogus: Shrinks

Related Newser Stories

Video Games: The New Prozac

Classic time-wasters seem to ease the symptoms of depression in studies

MORE ABOUT: depression • mental health • psychology • video games • Jay-ZTV

Studies Agree: Happiness Comes With Age

Mental health keeps improving even into one's '90s

MORE ABOUT: dementia • aging • psychology • American Psychological Association • emotion • happiness

CIA Tactics Can Cause Mental Harm: Doctors

Bush-era interrogation memos understated long-term effects

MORE ABOUT: torture • mental health • psychology • brain damage • waterboarding • interrogation techniques • neurons

mental health • psychology • homosexuality • sexual orientation • American Psychological Association • Ted Haggard

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MORE ABOUT:
depression • mental health • psychology • video games • Jay-ZTV

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dementia • aging • psychology • American Psychological Association • emotion • happiness

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torture • mental health • psychology • brain damage • waterboarding • interrogation techniques • neurons