The American Psychological Association released a press release yesterday of note, entitled Insufficient Evidence That Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Work, Says APA:

The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Wednesday stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.

Insufficient Evidence That Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Work, Says APAThe “Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts” also advises that parents, guardians, young people and their families avoid sexual orientation treatments that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and instead seek psychotherapy, social support and educational services “that provide accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase family and school support and reduce rejection of sexual minority youth.”

The approval, by APA’s governing Council of Representatives, came at APA’s annual convention, during which a task force presented a report that in part examined the efficacy of so-called “reparative therapy,” or sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE)…

Well obviously, Focus On The Family disagrees. Through their “news” arm CitizenLink piece Psychologists Consider Treatment of Homosexuality, they give us the scoop:

…The guidelines do allow for difference in religious beliefs, but Jeff Johnston, gender issues analyst for Focus on the Family, said they don’t go far enough.  He said the APA is starting with the false assumption that homosexuality is normal and positive.  

“There are a lot of people out there who haven’t just changed their sexual identity or behavior, but their attractions have also changed,” he explained.  ”I’m one of those people.”

The document also ignores many pathologies associated with homosexuality, which provide motivation for some to seek change.

Ah. So you gays, lesbians, and bisexuals all have a case of the abnormal and the negative, and apparently many of you have pathologies associated with your homosexuality. We trans people therefore must be the normal, positive ones here at The Blend, er….right? Wink Oh. Darnit, Focus On The Family/CitizenLink lumped us in with you darn homosexuals:

…We are deeply concerned about the hearts and souls of those who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or “transgendered.” We want those men and women to know that God loves them with an everlasting love. Through salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit, He can empower them to live according to His design and standards for sexuality. He offers the grace to accept their true identity – not as gay, lesbian, or gender-confused – but as His sons and daughters, embracing their biological reality as male or female.

We are also concerned about homosexuality’s impact on families, the church and our culture. There has been a growing and very successful effort to gain not just acceptance but approval for homosexuality and “transgenderism” in many areas, including the church, the media, business and education. Society and families always do best when individuals follow God’s created intent for humanity…

Darn. I was so looking forward to lording my normalcy over you homosexuals, you. Wink

But on the serious side of things, the APA stated it believes that “reparative therapy” won’t work. In the non-Bizarro world most of us in the reality-based community live in, what the folk at the APA say about reparative therapy matters a heck of a lot more than what the folk at Focus On The Family say on the subject.

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Further reading:

* Truth Wins Out: Commentary: The APA Says ‘No Evidence’ In Support of Ex-Gay Therapy

* Warren Throckmorton Blog: APA sexual orientation task force report: Analysis