National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality

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National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), formerly National Association for Research and Treatment of Homosexuality, is a non-profit organization that offers conversion therapy and other regimens intended to change the sexual orientation of individuals who experience unwanted sexual attraction to members of the same sex. NARTH's leaders describe their organization as "dedicated to affirming a complementary, male-female model of gender and sexuality."^[1] NARTH was founded in 1992 by Joseph Nicolosi, Benjamin Kaufman, and the late Charles Socarides. Its headquarters are in Encino, California, at the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic.

Contents 1 Formation 2 Activities 3 Views 3.1 Mission statement 3.2 Position statements 3.3 On the nature of sexual identity 4 Affiliations 4.1 Focus on the Family 4.2 PATH 5 Gerald Schoenewolf controversy 5.1 George Alan Rekers 6 Opposing views 7 Medical view of conversion therapy 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Formation

Narth was founded in 1992 by Benjamin Kaufman, Charles Socarides and Joseph Nicolosi. In an article titled In Defense of the Need for Honest Dialogue, Kaufman wrote that Socarides, Nicolosi and himself founded NARTH because the APA and similar professional organizations "had totally stifled the scientific inquiry that would be necessary to stimulate a discussion [about homosexuality]."^[2] NARTH's leaders argue that the political atmosphere had changed, making it politically incorrect to make even the suggestion of a dialogue that opens up the question of the normality of homosexuality. Kaufman states the reason they formed NARTH was in response to "censorship of a politically unpopular position."

[edit] Activities

NARTH's activities include providing referrals to conversion therapists, conducting research, hosting lectures, publishing scholarly literature, distributing literature to schools and libraries, promoting awareness of issues of homosexuality, and increasing public awareness of people who seek change in their sexual orientation.^[3]

NARTH is a secular organization who do not use the Bible as justification for their positions, differentiating them from other ex-gay groups who are primarily religious. Nevertheless, NARTH often partners with religious and secular groups, such as Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality (PATH), a coalition of predominantly ex-gay groups, alongside Evergreen International (Mormon), Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH), OneByOne (Presbyterian) and Powerful Change Ministry Group. NARTH's members also take part in religious ex-gay and conversion therapy activities."^[4] Agreement with NARTH's leaders' views is the "primary criterion for membership", rather than an individual's professional qualifications.^[4] The NARTH website also contains a resource list of theological articles.^[5]

[edit] Views

While its members may hold different views, NARTH's leaders hold to some key positions on the origins and nature of homosexuality. These views serve as both a basis for their advocacy, as well as a source of controversy in the psychological profession, among activists and in the media. NARTH's leaders argues that there is today a widespread propaganda in favor of normalizing homosexuality in law and education. NARTH believes that clients have the right to claim a gay identity.^[6]

[edit] Mission statement

NARTH's mission statement reads:^[7]

“

We respect the right of all individuals to choose their own destiny. NARTH is a professional, scientific organization that offers hope to those who struggle with unwanted homosexuality. As an organization, we disseminate educational information, conduct and collect scientific research, promote effective therapeutic treatment, and provide referrals to those who seek our assistance. NARTH upholds the rights of individuals with unwanted homosexual attraction to receive effective psychological care and the right of professionals to offer that care. We welcome the participation of all individuals who will join us in the pursuit of these goals.

”

[edit] Position statements

• NARTH's leaders explain their position on seven issues relevant to the group in this article on their website. They are titled:
  • Right to treatment
  • Gay advocacy in public schools
  • Pedophilia
  • Homophobia
  • Same-sex marriage
  • On the Meaning of Tolerance and Diversity
  • On the Causes of Homosexuality

[edit] On the nature of sexual identity

NARTH differs from the APA on their views on the nature and development of sexual identity.

“

NARTH agrees with the American Psychological Association that "biological, psychological and social factors" shape sexual identity at an early age for most people. But the difference is one of emphasis. We place more emphasis on the psychological (family, peer and social) influences, while the American Psychological Association emphasizes biological influences....

”

[edit] Affiliations

[edit] Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family's Love Won Out ministry claims to exhort and equip the church to respond in a Christ-like way to homosexuality from "a biblical point of view." The conference bases its Prevention of Male Homosexuality session on NARTH's leaders' research. In the session Prevention of Male Homosexuality:^[8] "Contrary to the popular myth that homosexuality is genetic, same-sex attraction is a preventable and treatable condition."^[9] Love Won Out questions if homosexuality may be unhealthy. Love Won Out shows in a statistic according to a study by NARTH:^[8] "500 studies show self-destructive, maladaptive behavior associated with a gay lifestyle."^[10]

Joseph Nicolosi, on November 4, 2006, represented NARTH at the Love Won Out conference speaking on "Prevention of Male Homosexuality" and on "The Condition of Male Homosexuality".^[8][11] Nicolosi is the president and principal research investigator for NARTH and the clinical director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, California, where he specializes in the treatment of "men with unwanted homosexuality".^[12]

[edit] PATH

In 2003 NARTH's leaders made NARTH a member of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality.

[edit] Gerald Schoenewolf controversy

NARTH received some criticism for Gerald Schoenewolf's essay "Gay Rights and Political Correctness: A Brief History", in which the member of NARTH's Science Advisory Committee argued that "Africa at the time of slavery was still primarily a jungle... Life there was savage ... and those brought to America, and other countries, were in many ways better off." He also stated that the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, and the gay rights movement were all "irrational" and "destructive."^[13] Schoenewolf later on clarified that "No person is better off enslaved, obviously... What I tried to say, before my words were twisted by that reporter, is that despite the clear and obvious evil of that practice, we tend to forget that many of the enslaved people had been first been sold into bondage by their fellow countrymen; so coming to America did bring about some eventual good. No social issue has all the 'good guys' lined up on one side and 'bad guys' on the other."^[14]

[edit] George Alan Rekers

George Alan Rekers is listed on NARTH's website as an officer. Despite NARTH's leaders' position that NARTH is a secular organization, Rekers has testified in court that he believes the Bible to be the infallible word of God and that homosexuality is a sin.^[15] His personal beliefs regarding homosexuality, according to the ACLU, interferes with his being able to give an unbiased professional opinion on LGBT topics, including gay adoption.^[16] Rekers was an expert witness in a 2004 case involving gay adoption in Arkansas. The state had banned LGBT people from adopting in 1999. In January 2005, Timothy White, Pulaski County's circuit court judge ruled against the state of Arkansas. Furthermore, he called Rekers' testimony "extremely suspect." He also accused Rekers of testifying solely for promoting his "own personal agenda."^[17]

In 2008, Rekers was also an expert witness in a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman ruled against the state. In her decision, she said "Dr. Rekers’ testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."^[17]

[edit] Opposing views

The American Psychological Association has stated: "Although there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation, some individuals modified their sexual orientation identity (i.e., group membership and affiliation), behavior, and values. They did so in a variety of ways and with varied and unpredictable outcomes, some of which were temporary. Based on the available data, additional claims about the meaning of those outcomes are scientifically unsupported."^[18] NARTH's leaders disagree^[19][20][21] with the longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation and that homosexuality per se is not a mental disorder.^[22] NARTH's leaders support the use of conversion therapy.^[23][24] Indeed, NARTH is the main secular organization advocating conversion therapy.^[25][26][27] Mainstream American medical and scientific organizations reject conversion therapy as ineffective at best, and harmful at worst. American Psychiatric Association states that "efforts to repathologize homosexuality by claiming that it can be cured are often guided not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric research, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians" and "'Reparative' therapy literature also tends to overstate the treatment's accomplishments while neglecting any potential risks to patients. APA encourages and supports research in the NIMH and the academic research community to further determine 'reparative' therapy's risks versus its benefits."^{[28][29][30][31]} The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers also stated in an amicus brief presented to the Supreme Court of the State of California: "Sexual orientation has proved to be generally impervious to interventions intended to change it, which are sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy.” No scientifically adequate research has shown that such interventions are effective or safe. Moreover, because homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexuality, national mental health organizations do not encourage individuals to try to change their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Therefore, all major national mental health organizations have adopted policy statements cautioning the profession and the public about treatments that purport to change sexual orientation."^[32] The Royal College of Psychiatrists stated that it "shares the concern of both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association that positions espoused by bodies like the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) in the United States are not supported by science. There is no sound scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Furthermore so-called treatments of homosexuality as recommended by NARTH create a setting in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish,"^[33] and added that "The best evidence for efficacy of any treatment comes from randomized clinical trials and no such trial has been carried out in this field."^[34]

[edit] Medical view of conversion therapy

The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers has stated: "Sexual orientation has proved to be generally impervious to interventions intended to change it, which are sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy.” No scientifically adequate research has shown that such interventions are effective or safe. Moreover, because homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexuality, national mental health organizations do not encourage individuals to try to change their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Therefore, all major national mental health organizations have adopted policy statements cautioning the profession and the public about treatments that purport to change sexual orientation. The statement of the American Psychiatric Association cautions that “[t]he potential risks of ‘reparative therapy’ are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior.”"^[32] Major organizations that reject therapy to change sexual orientation include the 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, and the National Education Association.^[35]

NARTH's leaders reject these claims, arguing that the psychological and psychiatric professional associations have become little more than the research arms of the gay rights movement.^[36] A. Dean Byrd commented in a press release that a paper by Jeffrey Satinover showed that, "...gay advocates have created fraudulent studies and misused, misquoted, and mischaracterized other research studies for political gain. These reports are frequently used in court cases to bring about victories for gay activism."^[37]

The keynote speaker at NARTH's 2004 Annual Conference, Robert Perloff, a past president of the APA, said that: "The individual's right for self-determination of sexuality – or sexual autonomy – is, I am happy to see, inherent in NARTH's position statement: 'NARTH respects each client's dignity, autonomy, and free agency... every individual has the right to claim a gay identity, or to develop their heterosexual potential. The right to seek therapy to change one's sexual adaptation is considered self-evident and inalienable.' I subscribe fully to the aforementioned NARTH position statement."^[38]

[edit] See also

• Biology and sexual orientation
• Environment and sexual orientation
• Homosexuality and psychology
• Sexual orientation and medicine

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• NARTH Website
• COPP Position Statement on Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies)^{[dead link]}
• NARTH position statements
• National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, Official Website