P.A.T.H. - Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality

Change Is Possible

"Diversity Includes Us"

NEWS

NARTH Releases an Important & Comprehensive Study on Therapeutic Responses to SSA

In response to the usual criticism leveled at "reparative therapy", "conversion therapy", and "gender affirming processes" by the media, gay activists, and a number of mental health professional associations who have adopted the negative mantras concerning such processes, the Scientific Advisory Committee of NARTH (The National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) spent eighteen months reviewing and documenting the professional literature to determine whether commonly stated objections to providing psychological care to those who are distressed by unwanted homosexual attractions have any validity. NARTH found such objections to be scientifically unsupportable and did so by providing a landscape review of 125 years of scientific literature involving more than 600 studies - primarily from professional and peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Entitled What Research Shows: NARTH's Response to the APA Claims on Homosexuality, the study concludes that over a century of experiential evidence, clinical reports, and research documentation demonstrate that it is possible for both men and women to change from homosexuality to heterosexuality; that psychological intervention motivated by efforts to change sexual orientation are beneficial and not generally harmful, and that homosexual men and women, active in the lifestyle, do indeed have greater risk factors for medical, psychological and relational pathology than do the general population. As they specifically state, "Based on our review of 125 years of reports by clinicians, researchers, and former clients, we conclude that reorientation treatment has been shown to be beneficial--and not harmful--and therefore should continue to be available to those who seek it. ... [Moreover,] clients who seek sexual reorientation deserve properly informed and competent psychological care from therapists who use interventions that have been scientifically demonstrated as helpful for achieving this goal." The study highlights nearly a dozen different treatment modalities and provides an exhaustive 26 page reference list for those desirous of looking at the underlying literature.

At one time, the focus of the anti-therapeutic intervention strategy of gay advocates and their allies was to simply state that people are born that way and that any form of therapeutic intervention was useless. (A myth that is still widely believed by large numbers of citizens in Western society.) However, recognizing that no scientific basis exists for this canard, the anti-healing camp invented 3 additional concerns about the ethics, efficacy, benefits, and potential harm of therapies that seek to reduce or eliminate same-sex sexual orientation.

NARTH systematically deconstructs the following three major objections, finding each of them to be false (1) there is no conclusive or convincing evidence that sexual orientation may be changed through reorientation therapy. (2) Efforts to change sexual orientation are shown to be harmful and can lead to greater self-hatred, depression, and other self-destructive behaviors, and (3) There is no greater pathology in the homosexual population that the general population. To the contrary, the monograph shows:

I. There is substantial evidence that sexual orientation may be changed through reorientation therapy.

II. Efforts to change sexual orientation has been shown to be beneficial and not shown to be harmful or to regularly lead to greater self-hatred, depression, and other self- destructive behaviors.

III. There is in fact significantly greater medical, psychological, and relational pathology in the homosexual population than in the general population.

The principal authors of this study, Drs. James E. Phelan, Neil Whitehead, and Philip Sutton have performed an invaluable service to the mental health profession and to the healing ministries by gathering the pertinent information documenting the lack of any credible evidence proving that anyone is born gay while simultaneously summarizing the literature showing how so many different therapeutic modalities have proven effective for those who are unhappy with their same-sex attraction (SSA) feelings and/or behavior.

A more complete summary of the study can be found by clicking onto www.narth.com/docs/journalsummary.html The complete issue of the Journal, with the entire monograph, can be ordered by phone at 1-888-364-4744 or by clicking onto either http://www.narth.com/docs/gettingstraight.html or online at www.narth.com.

PRESS RELEASE -- JULY 8, 2003

Media Contacts:
Arthur Goldberg, 201-433-3444
Richard Cohen, 301-805-6111

DIVERSE COALITION FORMS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE SEEKING
'NON-GAY' ALTERNATIVES TO UNWANTED HOMOSEXUALITY

JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 8, 2002 -- A diverse group of 10 national and international non-profit organizations that serve people conflicted over unwanted homosexual attractions has formed a non-profit coalition called PATH (Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality) and established this website as a joint venture.

The new coalition includes secular, therapeutic and research organizations in the U.S. and Germany as well as African-American, Catholic, Jewish, Latter-day Saint and Protestant ministries.

PATH was formed to promote greater public understanding and acceptance of men, women and youth who experience same-sex attractions but prefer to pursue "non-gay" alternatives that are congruent with their values, beliefs and life goals. The coalition will also support greater access to information and resources for those who seek change.

PATH's 10 initial member organizations have collectively worked with thousands of men, women and youth who have either transitioned out of a homosexual lifestyle and identity or resolved their same-sex attractions without ever fully embracing homosexuality.

"It's an utterly false stereotype to assume that anyone with homosexual feelings just wants to be accepted and affirmed as gay," said Arthur Goldberg, president of PATH (and co-founder of Jonah, an educational, support and referral organization for Jews). "Many do not. They don't object to others choosing to live a homosexual life, but it's not what they want for their own lives. Those who voluntarily choose an alternative path deserve equal respect and support.

"And the fact is," Goldberg said, "people can and do change. The personal life experience of innumerable men and women demonstrates that conclusively. Sexual desires are not immutable."

Richard Cohen, a member of the PATH organizing committee who is a therapist and himself a former homosexual, said, "I know from my own personal experience, and the experience of literally hundreds of men and women I have worked with, that change is real. Many of them have developed heterosexual desires, married and had children of their own. Many have saved their existing marriages and families. Some have embraced a 'sexually sober' lifestyle as a single man or woman. Whatever their personal circumstances and goals, they have learned from personal experience that change is possible."

In a statement of beliefs, PATH's Website indicates that its members support: personal choice on how to deal with same-sex attractions; the individual's right to be informed about alternatives to living a homosexual life; and the individual's right to decide whether to seek counseling or therapy, what kind of counseling to seek and to determine the desired direction of his or her own therapy program.

It also states that those who have transitioned out of a former homosexual identity and lifestyle, or who choose to pursue alternatives to homosexuality, "deserve tolerance and acceptance. Their choices should not subject them to discrimination, ridicule, marginalization, or make them the target of hate speech or accusations of homophobia. Demands for tolerance by one group can never justify intolerance or ridicule of another."

The 10 groups forming the coalition are: Courage, a worldwide Catholic ministry based in New York City; Evergreen International, a Utah-based educational and resource organization serving members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the German Institute for Youth and Society, a think tank and research organization that focuses on social developments affecting the family; the International Healing Foundation, an educational and therapeutic organization based in Maryland; JONAH, or Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, an international educational an informational organization based in New Jersey; NARTH, or the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, a Los Angeles-based professional association that works to make effective psychological therapy available to all homosexual men and women who seek change; OneByOne, a Presbyterian ministry based in New York; PFOX, or Parents and Friends of Gays and Ex-Gay, support and informational organization based in Virginia; People Can Change, a support, informational and training organization based in Virginia; and Powerful Change Ministry Group, a fellowship of Christian African-American-led ministries, based in Atlanta.

NEWS

IS CHANGE POSSIBLE?

SIGNATORY ORGANIZATIONS

American College of Pediatricians

Anglican Mainstream UK
(Christian, United Kingdom)

Core
(Christian, Northern Ireland)

Courage
(Roman Catholic)

Evergreen International
(Latter-day Saints)

Family Watch International
(Secular)

German Institute for Youth and Society
(Scientific)

Help 4 Families
(Gender Issues)

Homosexuals Anonymous (Christian Fellowship)

International Healing Foundation
(Non-religious)

International Institute of Reorientation Therapies
(Scientific-Non-religious)

Jason
(International Christian Ex-Gay Ministry)