Good As You

When referring to Nicolosi's "research", you should probably use quotation marks. Has he "published" anything that wasn't quackery contained in a NArTH tome?

Shorter Joe: "They dismissed MY studies! Waaaaah"

This took less time than I thought it would.

What I don't understand (actual I do) they just need to be honest about the major factor as to why someone would seek help with changing their sexuality - that being they have made a choice to follow a faith that is incompatible with homosexuality.

They operate exactly like creationists:

1. Make bullshit statement with obvious religious agenda with no evidence whatsoever.

2. Thump bible and claim anyone who points out your total lack of scientific studies or evidence is a filthy, anti-christian sinner.

3. When the other 99% *actual number for creationists* of scientists point out your full of shit claim they're all in a vast conspiracy to hide the 'truth' with no tangible rewards for they're efforts. Never acknowledge you are funded, promoted and cited exclusively by religious/far-right groups while they have no stake in the results.

4.repeat.

penguinsaur - Amen to that!

Nicolosi is a joke. He also complains about the fact that they didn't address the "pathologies" that come with homosexuality.
This study completely noted the higher rates of anxiety and depression and things like that, and rightfully attributed them to the attitude of society.
Of course Nicolosi would say that this isn't true because higher rates are also in gay people from countries with gay marriage, which is a really stupid statement.
Canada has gay marriage and has had it for a while, but you think that when I found out I was gay in high school I was thrilled to come out to anyone, even my closest friends? Heck no. I was crazy scared, and yes, even in a country with gay marriage this caused me anxiety. Even in a country with gay marriage I here homophobic remarks, and while it has no affect on me, I can see how someone who isn't okay with their sexual orientation would be very negatively affected by these things.

When my parents found out I was gay, they actually sent me to the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic. The therapist I saw there was actually a nice guy, and was unwilling to try and force me to change if I didn't want to. In the end, all the sessions did was build my confidence so I was more sure of myself, which was basically the opposite of what my parents wanted.

But yeah, Nicolosi's a quack. I'm kind of happy I never met the guy.

What these aversion therapists ( and this major study) fail to consider when they find someone has successfully turned to heterosexuality is that they may have been bi-sexual in the first place. The therapy is only successful when it merely reinforces one gender attraction over the other. Also, are there any study that show anyone being turned straight to gay? No, I thought not.

Stop whining, Mr. Nicolosi. Take your "research" and drop it in the dustbin of history where it belongs! If God didn't want there to be gay people, there would be no gay people, period!

Patrick C.: Did you have to see Robert Vazzo, too?

I always felt like he knew all of this was BS and just let me play both sides against the middle during our sessions.

Nicolosi isn't hard to refute. He's not hard to disqualify on the very basis he should be: his prejudice, his laziness, his lack of comparative studies with OTHER stigmatized minorities and the similarly heightened pathology in THOSE groups, and his lack of keeping CURRENT with other comprehensive and legitimate research by OTHER medical and psychological bodies.
He IS a quack. He's a bigoted quack.

He reminds me of that slave era doctor Samuel Cartwright.
He was considered the foremost expert on diseases of slaves and guess what he 'discovered'?
That black slaves suffered from a disorder called 'dropetomania' that made them want to keep running away from slavery. They'd HAVE to be all kinds of crazy and stupid to want to do that now, wouldn't they?

See, throughout the ages there have been some very mean descriptors made up to demonstrate perfectly normal behavior. You should see the ones made up for women who get angry or upset. Hysteria is one of those words.

When it's all said and done, even since before Biblical times...when it comes to trying to maintain an oppressive status quo...people will make shit up.