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Dr. Robert Spitzer was the leading figure in the 1973 APA
decision which removed homosexuality from the official diagnostic
manual of mental disorders.
But after interviewing 200 "ex-gays" he now says:
“Like most psychiatrists, I thought that homosexual behavior
could only be resisted, and that no one could really change
their sexual orientation. I now believe that to be false.
Some people can and do change.”
Dr. Spitzer is Chief of Biometrics Research and Professor
of Psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City.
More about Dr. Spitzer's announcement.
|
Robert L. Spitzer, MD |
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| More versions of the Some Gays
CAN Change story (5/10/01) |
| |
Yesterday we brought the story that Dr.
Robert Spitzer, who led the task force that in 1973 removed homosexuality
from the official list of mental disorders contained in the psychiatric
association's diagnostic manual, now says that he believes that "some
people can and do change."
Here are some other reports, which not only focused on him, but also
on critics, GLBT advocacy groups, and on another study also released
yesterday, and also a report focusing on ex-gay ministries: |
| • |
Associated
Press "...Gay rights activists attacked the study, and
an academic critic noted that many of the 200 "ex-gays"
who participated were referred by religious groups that condemn
homosexuality..."
|
| • |
Washington
Post: "A controversial study has found that some gay men
and lesbians are able to change their sexual orientation through psychotherapy
or religious counseling, while a second study has concluded that most
who attempt such a change fail and suffer lasting harm..." |
| • |
New
York Times "..."It's snake oil, it's not science,"
David Elliot, the communications director of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force, a lobbying group in Washington, said of the study..."
[registration required] |
| • |
Ex-gay
ministries John Paulk, Focus on the Family (FOF) gender and homosexuality
department manager, who took part in Spitzer's study along with his
wife, Anne, said, "It's hard to argue with the story of 200 people
who had been out of homosexuality for at least five years." |
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Commentary:
Psychiatry and Homosexuality
Wall Street Journal Op-Ed by Robert L. Spitzer (05/26/01) |
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"Science progresses by asking interesting
questions, not by avoiding questions whose answers might not be helpful
in achieving a political agenda. Gay rights are a completely separate
issue, and defensible for ethical reasons. At the end of the day,
the full inclusion of gays in society does not, I submit, require
a commitment to the false notion that sexual orientation is invariably
fixed for all people."
See GLAAD's
commentary. |
| |
Score
one for politics -- By Ethan Campbell
"Those scientists have got some nerve" (06/08/01) |
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"Take Dr. Robert Spitzer, professor
of Psychiatry at Columbia University who has been conducting psychiatric
research for more than 30 years.
"...With the naiveté of an objective scientist, Spitzer
publicized his results" of the recent study which led him to
conclude that "Some
Gays Can Change."
Immediately he was attacked by many. Campbell says:
"Precisely none of these attacks were leveled, however, on scientific
grounds. Spitzer’s research was the victim of a purely political assault.
.."
"To understand the purpose behind such weak-minded attacks, we
must
look at what is at stake politically for the attackers..." |
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|
Viewpoint
A dangerous misstatement — What Spitzer did not say
By Craig E. Tenke (10/20/01)
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"Rev Crawford insists, "Homosexuality is not a genetic fact. It is a mental
choice." While I am certain that these statements accurately reflect HIS
impressions and feelings, neither of these assertions are supported by the
work he alludes to. Dr. Spitzer was not saying this at all..." |
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