LGBT Issues and Events

Matthew Shepard Foundation Applauds American Psychological Association
for Repudiating “Gay-to-Straight” Therapy

August 5, 2009

The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds the American Psychological Association for its strongest statement yet warning therapists away from so-called “conversion” therapy to change individuals’ sexual orientations from gay to heterosexual.

The APA, meeting at its annual convention in Toronto, received a report from its Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation, finding that treatments which purport to portray homosexuality as an illness which can be corrected are not based on evidence and at most teach individuals to ignore their sexual attractions. The task force was formed in 2007 and examined 83 studies from nearly 50 years.

The APA’s governing council adopted a resolution calling on mental health professionals to “avoid telling clients they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.” Instead, the APA agreed, young people and their families should instead seek support and education that increases social acceptance of sexual-minority youth.

Though the task force found insufficient evidence of harm to participants in conversion therapy, it did note that some clients might experience distress due to conflicts between their sexual orientation and their religious beliefs. It recommended that care providers help these patients “explore possible life paths that address the reality of their sexual orientation, reduce the stigma associated with homosexuality, [and] respect the client’s religious beliefs.”

The Matthew Shepard Foundation has been aware for some time of accounts from past participants of these conversion programs who experienced profound distress and lasting psychological harm from misguided efforts to change their fundamental nature. The Foundation believes parents and community leaders would be well served to heed the APA’s advice and to work to understand and accept gay and lesbian youth with dignity.

The APA’s press release and complete report can be found at: http://www.apa.org/releases/therapeutic.html
Jason Marsden
Executive Director

LifeWalk is set for Sunday, October 10th, 2010 at Lee Park and is a family- and pet-friendly event benefitting AIDS Arms, Inc. to raise AIDS awareness and funds to help HIV+ men, women and children in North Texas. LifeWalk is a 3.2 mile walk through Dallas' scenic Turtle Creek and Uptown. To date LifeWalk has raised and distributed more than $8 million for AIDS services throughout the Dallas community.

For More Information Go to the Lifewalks Website

Gay Conversion and Reparative Therapy

Some psychologists and other therapists engage in a controversial practice of attempting to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals. It is called "conversion" or "reparative" therapy. Essentially all such therapists are motivated by strong religiously conservative beliefs. Many are from Evangelical Christian ministries who believe that God hates homosexuality, that people choose their sexual orientation, and that they can change it with some counseling effort and prayer.

In 1995, a resolution was defeated by the APA membership that would have called such therapy unethical professional behavior. A similar resolution was defeated by the American Psychiatric Association in 1994.

On 1997-AUG-14, they did pass a resolution which "stops short of declaring reparative or 'conversion' therapy unethical." It was passed by an overwhelming vote in spite of vehement opposition by "a vocal minority of psychologists, psychiatrists and religious groups."

The procedure of attempting to covert gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals to heterosexuality has been criticized as bigotry posing as science. Doug Haldeman, president of the APA's Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues helped to write the resolution. He said "In the past 10 years, Christian fundamentalists have enlisted a coalition of old-style psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers who have become very visible in this country and internationally, and who have as a mission to `help' homosexuals get rid of their sexual orientation...Our aim is not to try to stop them per se or interfere with anyone's right to practice [therapy] but we want to expose the social context that creates this market." APA officials are concerned that some who enter therapy are being coerced by their families, employers, church members etc.

Want to find out more on this terrible act visit the Friends of B.R.Y.C.E. Informtion site Friendsofbryce.info

This site has been taking down read about it on my blog Click Here

Transsexual Rights

To some people get confused by the word Transsexual and think of it as a lifestyle not really knowing what it really means or what a Transsexual person goes through when they decide to be who they really truly are. Transsexual is a term that some people think of cross dressers and think of it as a nasty sexual perversion. Those people are so far from the truth. So were going to set the record straight!

When a person identifies themselves as a Transsexual they are either a woman or a man that was born into a body that there soul and mind was not meant to be. For us that are not Transsexuals we could not phantom the idea of being in a body that we did not think of as ours. Trans Gendered identity is truly a medical condition and needs people to be open minded. There are not days that someone wakes up and being a man and decides that they want to be a woman. Its something that these people have felt from the time they could talk, walk, and when they grow up the urge of knowing that they are now how they are meant to be is not what they are.

Really? How many of you think that person decides to go through painful reconstructive sexual indentity surgery for the fun of it? THEY DONT! Transsexuals are forced to be hiding in some communities and in other countries are even punished by death because they think its a medical disease that there is no cure for. This kind of behavior is just sickening and there needs to be more education on this subject so these loving people can live normal and productive lives. They are humans just like the rest of us and they should have equal rights!

To find out more on Transsexuals and what is going on in the United States please visit these sites. Some of the material you are about to read will make you sick as to find out how human beings are being treated and just because they are different from you. Please join us in fighting for equal rights in the whole LGBT Community.. Not just for the Gays and Lesbians. We all need equal rights.

Mexico Purposes Transsexual Rights Calpernia Addams Diary

New England Trans Unite 2010 Lynns Place

Teena Brandon Murdered

Putang Productions recomendation for websites with large amounts of Transsexual rights and information. SEXGENDERBODY

As we come across more informational sites we will get those posted on here.

Open Mic Night Fund Raiser for Miss Trans New England A Success!

Saturday February 20th Christa Hilfers- Putang organized a open mic, potluck to help raise funds for the Miss Trans New England Pagent. Quite a few people showed up for the event, and it was a good success for the pagent. Everybody had a good time! Take a look at some of the pictures.