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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation

1. Introduction
Laying the Foundation of the Report
Psychology, Religion, and Homosexuality

2. A Brief History of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
Homosexuality and Psychoanalysis
Sexual Orientation Change Efforts.
Affirmative Approaches: Kinsey; Ford and Beach; and Hooker
Decline of SOCE.
Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Provided to Religious Individuals

3. A Systematic Review of Research on the Efficacy of SOCE
Overview of the Systematic Review
Methodological Problems in the Research Literature on SOCE
Summary

4. A Systematic Review of Research on the Efficacy of SOCE: Outcomes
Reports of Benefit
Reports of Harm
Conclusion
FULL PDF DOC HERE



also of interest: The Psychological Profession and Homosexuality: Lunatics Running the Asylum?
source:

Excerpt from article:
The American Psychological Association Perpetuates the Madness
In its most recent statement on the topic, the American Psychological Association (APA) has softened its tone somewhat against psychologists who do reorientation therapy for homosexuals. However it maintains that, "Contrary to claims of sexual orientation change advocates and practitioners, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation".
The refusal of the organization to accept the increasingly strong evidence against its position is another reminder of how entrenched the sophistry of sexual hedonism has become among the leaders of the organization.
In recent years, a number of studies have been published in peer-reviewed psychology journals, indicating that significant numbers of patients who voluntarily participate in therapy to change their sexual orientation are successful and happy with the results. Combined with numerous individual testimonies by former homosexuals, evidence in favor of the practice is overwhelming.
However, in its new report, "Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation," the APA's leadership declares that all of those studies can be dismissed because, in its words, "None of the recent research (1999-2007) meets methodological standards that permit conclusions regarding efficacy or safety."
The report therefore conveniently disposes of the most recent studies on the topic -- the ones that undermine the APA's position. The only studies that remain are ones done before the resurgence of the reparative therapy movement, in the 1970s, when the APA declared that homosexual orientation and sodomy really weren't unhealthy after all. New research is rejected in favor of research that is now over 30 years old, applied to therapeutic practices that may no longer be in use.
However, the authors of Essential Psychotherapy and its Treatment, a standard text in medical schools, disagree with the APA's leadership, and say that the newer studies vindicate sexual reorientation therapy.
The newest edition (2009) notes on page 488 that, "While many mental health care providers and professional associations have expressed considerable skepticism that sexual orientation could be changed with psychotherapy and also assumed that therapeutic attempts at reorientation would produce harm, recent empirical evidence demonstrates that homosexual orientation can indeed be therapeutically changed in motivated clients, and that reorientation therapies do not produce emotional harm when attempted (e.g., Byrd & Nicolosi, 2002; Byrd et al., 2008; Shaeffer et al., 1999; Spitzer, 2003)."
The APA's latest report, done by a task force composed of psychologists with long records of homosexualist activism, also claims as "scientific facts" that "same-sex sexual attractions, behavior, and orientations per se are normal and positive variants of human sexuality-in other words, they are not indicators of mental or developmental disorders" and "no empirical studies or peer-reviewed research supports theories attributing same-sex sexual orientation to family dysfunction or trauma."
These unbelievable statements fly in the face of more than a century of scientific, peer-reviewed studies and clinical observation that indicate that much homosexual behavior originates in deficient family relationships and is associated with a wide range of diseases and pathological behaviors.
Studies have shown that homosexuals disproportionately come from families in which sons or daughters lack a healthy relationship with one or both of their parents, or in situations in which the homosexual was the victim of child sex abuse by a same-sex adult.
Homosexual behavior is also statistically associated with a host of diseases, disorders, and pathological behaviors, including venereal and other diseases, promiscuity and unstable relationships , anxiety disorders , depression and suicide , alcoholism and drug abuse , domestic violence , pederasty, and early death .
Even the homosexual Gay and Lesbian Medical Association admits that homosexuals suffer disproportionate rates of disease and self destructive beahviour.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Sexual Offences Bill (Trinidad)

Thanks to gspottt for this, we can compare notes. Please see older posts on our recently passed joke of a bill and also Scottland's Revised Bill as well.

Under Trinidad & Tobago’s Sexual Offences Act, anal intercourse between a man and a man or a man and a woman who are both adults, whether consensual or not, is punishable by 25 years in jail.
The Immigration Act prohibits entry of prostitutes, homosexuals, persons living on their earnings, persons reasonably suspected as coming to Trinidad and Tobago for these or any other immoral purposes, and “persons who are reasonably suspected of attempting to bring into Trinidad and Tobago or of procuring prostitutes or other persons for the purpose of prostitution or homosexual or other immoral purposes”. This exclusion does not apply to citizens and residents.
All non-heterosexual sex is criminalized under the Sexual Offences Act. Pleasurable use of the genitals is punishable as “serious indecency”, worth five years in jail, except if it’s done between a man and a woman, both over 16, in private (or between a husband and wife, e.g., if she’s under 16 under the Hindu or Muslim marriage laws).

Sexual Offences Act
Chapter 11:28
Act 27 of 1986
Amended by20 of 1994
31 of 2000

13. (1) A person who commits buggery is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed by an adult on a minor, for life;
(b) if committed by an adult on another adult, for twenty-five years;
(c) if committed by a minor, for five years.
(2) In this section “buggery” means sexual inter­course per anum by a male person with a male person or by a male person with a female person.

16. (1) A person who commits an act of serious indecency on or towards another is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed on or towards a minor under sixteen years of age for ten years for a first offence and to imprisonment for fifteen years for a subsequent offence;
(b) if committed on or towards a person sixteen years of age or more for five years.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an act of serious indecency committed in private between—
(a) a husband and his wife; or
(b) a male person and a female person each of whom is sixteen years of age or more, both of whom consent to the commission of the act.

(3) An act of “serious indecency” is an act, other than sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural), by a person involving the use of the genital organ for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.

THE FULL ACT HERE

Lata

H

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

'50-50 chance' of Zimbabwe constitution protecting gays

By Jessica Green

Gay rights campaigners in Zimbabwe believe they have a 50-50 chance of having gay, lesbian and bisexual people protected under the country's new constitution.

The constitution is currently being drafted and there is hope that if gay rights are included, it will overturn laws criminalising sex between men. Sex between women is not mentioned in law.

Keith Goddard, director of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, told the Guardian there was "probably got a 50:50 chance” of getting gay rights into the constitution.

He said that the best chance of success was to argue pm the grounds of health and HIV prevention.

"The National Aids Council has moved forward enormously from its original policy, and in its strategic plan for 2006-10 it specifically calls for the decriminalisation of homosexuality because punitive measures have simply driven the community underground and make this hidden population difficult to reach.

"So I think we can use it on the grounds of health and HIV/Aids interventions to try and argue the issue. Arguing it on religious or moral grounds is not going to get it anywhere. We live in hope."

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has previously described gay people as worse than "dogs and pigs", claiming homosexuality is "un-African" and a "white man's disease."

He has warned against the dangers of homosexuality and threatened pro-gay clergy with prison sentences.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Gay on Gay violence on the rise

Whether its domestic disputes between lovers including a third party or the rumoured illegal sweepstakes fraudulent activity where persons employ all sorts of weaponry and devices (including obeah/vodoo) I am told, gay on gay violence in rearing it's ugly head again in public. 



A lesbian couple recently had an appointment at a police station where one accused the other of a harsh beating. Fights were predominantly known to happen at parties hence the careful selection by some gays of events they attend as certain gay venues have been known to have sporadic breakouts of fights or outright brawls in the past as lovers or sweethearts "fight ova man" or woman as the case may be.

Lesbians are not exempt as female get togethers have seen some increase in this kind of antisocial behaviour as well, the Jamaican lesbian community was once heralded at the benchmark for gays to learn from in terms of public behaviour, now they have similar issues as gay men.

There are several complaints from ordinary citizens as well of fights in public spaces by gays and lesbians including a very public one on a JUTC bus recently, the bus was stopped and the girls removed by security personnel who apparently saw the exchange via the security cameras on board.

What are the causes of the increase and how can we begin to address it?

It's bad that we have a reputation already as nasty people by John public but to see us fighting and quarrelling in public what good will that do us?
Some time ago there was a suggestion in the now defunct GLABCOM meetings that an anger management course or seminar be established permanently to deal with issues faced by us, to this day nothing yet.
The sad part about it as well is that these bouts of rage is not limited to fist fights but knives and guns have been known or alleged to be employed as well in some instances.

Boi it bad fi true.

Where do we begin folks?

Lata

H