Professional Views

The American Psychological Association

The research on homosexuality is very clear. Homosexuality is neither mental illness nor moral depravity. It is simply the way a minority of our population expresses human love and sexuality. Study after study documents the mental health of gay men and lesbians. Studies of judgment, stability, reliability, and social and vocational adaptiveness all show that gay men and lesbians function every bit as well as heterosexuals, nor is homosexuality a matter of individual choice. Research suggests that the homosexual orientation is in place very early in the life cycle, possibly even before birth. It is found in about ten percent of the population, a figure which is surprisingly constant across cultures, irrespective of the different moral values and standards of a particular culture. Contrary to what some imply, the incidence of homosexuality in a population does not appear to change with new moral codes or social mores. Research findings suggest that efforts to repair homosexuals are nothing more than social prejudice garbed in psychological accouterments.
Taken from the American Psychological Association statement on homosexuality which was released in July, 1994.

On August 14, 1997 the American Psychological Association passed a resolution to restrict psychologists and therapists from engaging in the controversial practice of "conversion" or "reparative" therapy, which attempts to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals. The resolution was passed out of concern that some clients are being coerced by family members, employers or church officials to take part in therapies that have not proven to be effective.

The APA resolution affirms that therapists obtain informed consent from the client, which includes:

• A full discussion of the client's potential for happiness as a homosexual.
• Communication to the client that there is no sound scientific evidence that the therapy works.
• Raising the possibility that therapy may exacerbate the client's problems.
• An analysis of the client's true motivation for wanting to change.

The American Medical Association

The American Medical Association released a report in December, 1994 which calls for " a non-judgmental recognition of sexual orientation by physicians"