A new report from the U.S. government calls for an end to what they are calling the “discredited practice” known as conversion therapy (CT) for homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths. The report released last week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) comes just months after the Obama administration endorsed efforts to ban the practice.
According to SAMHSA Special Expert on LGBT Affairs, Elliot Kennedy:
“Conversion therapies or other efforts to change sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are not effective, reinforce harmful gender stereotypes and are not appropriate mental health treatments.”
The report advocates that these youngsters “be supported in their right to explore, define, and articulate their own identity,” because, according to Kennedy, variations in sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are normal.
The America Psychological Association (APA), which helped develop the report, lists increases in depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and poor self-esteem as consequences of CT. They further claim that these negative mental health effects may contribute to substance abuse and risky sexual behaviors by some youngsters.
Wait a minute. Is the APA actually making the claim that encouraging youth to engage in deviant sexual behavior will actually prevent engaging in deviant sexual behavior?
Talk about Orwellian double-speak.
Dr. Jack Drescher, an “expert” on homosexual, bisexual, and transgender health issues as well as being a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in New York City had this to say about the issue:
“Many practitioners of conversion therapy are unlicensed, and many have religious training rather than medical training. It’s important for people to be informed about the potentials for harm from conversion therapy.”
The report includes information for families, educators and care providers on how to support LGBT children, including the use of behavioral health and medical care that takes an affirmative approach. (emphasis mine)
And there you have it!
The real reason Obama and the morally bankrupt APA object to CT isn’t because of any “science” or lack of medical training, it’s because it is practiced by people of faith who refuse to embrace deviant sexual practices in an affirmative manner.
The bottom line is this, if the recommendations of this report ever become law nationally–it already is in four states, and there are 21 additional states who have considered or are considering it along with the U.S. Congress–pastors, Christian counselors and educators will be breaking the law if they advocate a Bible-based approach to these sexual issues.
And that’s just a step away from making it illegal for parents.
The LGBT movement has never been about civil rights. The objective has always been to force those who oppose their deviant lifestyles–especially Christians–to unconditionally accept them or be destroyed.
David Leach is the owner and publisher of The Strident Conservative where he is proudly politically-incorrect and always “right,” and he is also a frequent contributor at RedState.com.
His political commentaries can be heard daily on KLZ560 AM at 3pm MST and on other Crawford Broadcasting stations throughout the day.
