Virtual Thoughtspace of the abominable Karn-ivore

Allright bitches it’s time

I don’t even know why this is even an issue anymore but I’m going to go through the official policies of several prominent health and social care organizations regarding their views, based on their own research and evidence; homosexuality,  reparative therapy and gay adoption. 

Homosexuality and adoption:

American Psychological Association:

(Biggest Organization of Psychologists in America)

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual-orientation.aspx

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that a considerable body of professional literature provides evidence that children with parents who are homosexual can have the same advantages and the same expectations for health, adjustment, and development as can children whose parents are heterosexual.”

American BAR association

“RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association supports the enactment of laws and implementation of public policy that provide that sexual orientation shall not be a bar to adoption when the adoption is determined to be in the best interest of the child.”

American Medical Association

(Biggest organization of healthcare professionals in America)

“Our AMA will support legislative and other efforts to allow the adoption of a child by the same-sex partner, or opposite sex non-married partner, who functions as a second parent or co-parent to that child. (Res. 204, A-04).”

American Psychiatric Association

(Biggest organization of Psychiatrists in America)

“The research also shows that children who have two parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientations, do better than children with only one parent”

American Psychoanalytic Association

“WHEREAS homosexuality is a normal variant of adult sexuality and, WHEREAS gay men and lesbians possess the same potential and desire for sustained loving and lasting relationships as heterosexuals… The American Psychoanalytic Association supports the legal recognition of same-sex civil marriage with all the rights, benefits and responsibilities conferred by civil marriage…”

Child Welfare League of America

“Based on more than three decades of social science research and our 85 years of service to millions of families, CWLA believes that families with LGBTQ members deserve the same levels of support afforded other families. Any attempt to preclude or prevent gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals or couples from parenting, based solely on their sexual orientation, is not in the best interest of children.”

National Association of Social workers and North American Council for Adoptable Children

“Research shows gays/lesbians are effective parents and are an important resource for waiting children. Major medical and child-advocacy groups overwhelmingly support these adoptions.”

Failure of Reparative Therapy (includes praying away the gay)

“Our AMA… opposes, the use of “reparative” or “conversion” therapy that is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation.”

In 1997 APA produced a fact sheet on homosexual and bisexual issues, which states that “there is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of “reparative therapy” as a treatment to change one’s sexual orientation.”

American Counseling Association

“Conversion therapy assumes that a person who has same-sex attractions and behaviors is mentally disordered and that this belief contradicts positions held by the American Counseling Association and other mental health and biomedical professional organizations.”

“Some adolescents are uncertain about their sexual orientation; for them, a ‘counseling or psychotherapeuticinitiative’ aimed at clarification might be useful. Therapy directed specifically at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation.”Policy statement, “Homosexuality and Adolescence,” American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, 1993-OCT.

“The American Psychological Association opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and adults as mentallyill due to their sexual orientation and supports the dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation, and mental health, and appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based in ignorance or unfounded beliefs about sexual orientation.”“Resolution on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth in the Schools.” Resolutions Related to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues, American Psychological Association, 1993.

“Social stigmatization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people is widespread and is a primary motivating factor in leading some people to seek sexual orientation changes. Sexual orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual orientation is both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrate that reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be harmful…social workers have the responsibility to clients to explain the prevailing knowledge concerning sexual orientation and the lack of data reporting positive outcomes with reparative therapy. ““Policy Statement: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues.” Social Work Speaks, 4th ed., NASW, 1997.

“Reparative therapy… is based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions… [The groups who have signed on to this document] have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus there is no need for a ‘cure’.”“Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel.” Published by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Educators Network,www.glsen.org.