The Professional Division Over the Treatment of Homosexuality and How It Has Been Influenced by the Gay Political Movement

Abstract

The thesis will present evidence and take the position that the negative consequences of the post-1973 paradigm [the change in status of homosexuality from a disorder to a normal variant of sexuality] have outweighed the positive. Negative consequences of the post-1973 paradigm include fewer treatment options for those with unwanted same-sex attractions. Parents whose children have gender identity conflicts also have fewer treatment options. The post-1973 paradigm has stymied academic and professional research into the causes o f homosexuality and treatments for those who desire to change their sexual orientation. Research into the prevention of homosexuality has also been negatively impacted. Consequently, information given to parents and students ignores the causative factors of homosexuality, does not present the possibility of sexual orientation change, and ignores information parents could use to help a child develop a heterosexual identity. Since the post-1973 paradigm’s dominance the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association have disregarded the individual client with unwanted same-sex attractions. Gay caucuses, committees, and task forces dominate these association’s official views and publications on homosexuality. From a physical health perspective, the normalization of homosexuality through the paradigm shift of 1973 resulted in many more Americans contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS.