Homosexuality As A Mental Disorder

In the 1960s, the American Psychiatric Association described homosexuality as a mental disorder, such as illness, other than it was morally condemned by all world religions. Homosexual relationships, even made in the privacy of the home, were punishable

One example of persecution is the legal subjection to conversion therapy. Sometimes referred to as reparative therapy, or Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, conversion therapy historically used extreme measures such as institutionalization, castration, and electroconvulsive shock therapy in an effort to change a person’s sexual orientation. Today, some counselors still use physical treatments like aversive conditioning. While less extreme than some methods used in the past, this method is still void of any scientific validity (The Lies and Dangers of "Conversion

“Terror doesn't change people from gay to straight. It just hurts innocent people,” DaShanne Stokes, a recognized thought leader, sociologist, author, and speaker, on conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice that encompasses psychological or spiritual interventions to try and change an individual’s, usually a minor’s, sexual orientation. It has been highly discredited and criticized by all major American medical and psychological organizations and even, in 2001, the United States Surgeon General David Satcher, stated that there was “no valid scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed”. However, conversion therapy still occurs in the United States. This paper looks to examine Ferguson v. JONAH, a case credited as the “first of its kind”, it’s ruling, and the effect it could have on future cases.

The methodology of the article involved a comprehensive review of the extant literature on the subject, as well as a review of data and articles authored by individuals on both the ex-gay side (those who support conversion therapy) and the camp of people who oppose conversion therapy. The article begins with a long overview of the discourse surrounding both conversion therapy and homosexuality in the United States, beginning with the declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973. Through a review of all of the data, the two authors then

The current literature explains that the impression of anti- gay violence is socially acceptable and long- established when perpetrators who prey on victims of the LGBT community receive weightless verdicts or escape punishments altogether. Perpetrators recognize authority figures such as: parents, police, political and religious leaders who believe gays deserve such heinous treatment and will not treat the violence accordingly (Herek, 2004, p. 160). According to Wills (2004), hate crimes have origins that lead to intimidation, bullying, teasing, physical assault, rape, and murder causing victims to ultimately suffer the consequences of depression, psychological disorders, and suicide. Adults have, by now, further experienced the pressures of society because of their diverse sexuality. However, the stress placed upon teens and young adults, especially college students because of their sexual preference has lead to tremendous life-threatening

The stigma surrounding homosexuality in the United States is frightening. Since the dawn of religion, homosexuality has been frowned upon. It was and still is seen as a disgrace to the human race. More commonly seen in the 1950’s, 60’s and some of the 70’s homosexuality was considered a psychological disease and was even listed in the DSM, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the DSM (Herek). Parents would put their children through various psychotherapies and religious therapies. Unfortunately after the social norm changed to become slightly more accepting of gays the hatred made its way from a religious point of

Mental health experts have said that “conversion therapy, in most cases, leads to suicidal tendencies, self harm, depression, and parental hate in minors” (“Should Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’”). None of those things have a happy ending at all. When people are forced through those kinds of things, it only makes the patient suffer, not change. The depression that sometimes develops is usually caused by the therapist making the patient feel broken or like they don’t belong in society. Many conversion therapists have been reported to belittle each patient and tell them that they would “never function with normal people in society” (“Homosexuality Cannot Be ‘Cured’”). In a “successful” conversion case, the patient four months later attempted suicide since they still had homosexual thoughts and that made them feel like they couldn’t be normal, live a happy life, or have a family. All of those things were told to them by their conversion therapist earlier. Most conversion therapy cases end in suffering or mental pain to the patient, but nothing is done to the therapist themselves. Opposers to conversion therapy, including medical and mental health officials, state that the therapy is useless and is “physically, emotionally, and spiritually

In Torture and Ill-Treatment Based on Sexual Identity: The Roles and Responsibilities of Health Professionals and Their Institutions by Simon Lewin and Ilan H. Meyer, they believe that “ establishing rights for the full range of sexualities must start by asserting sexuality as one of the core rights of all human beings and, therefore, as a right that should be fundamentally protected.” Furthermore, they also point out that heterosexual couples aren’t treated as badly as couples of the LGBT community. Any sexualities that is not heterosexual are not referred to as normal and are seen in society as threats. This causes many forms of ill-treatment and torture for these couples of another sexuality. Lewis and Meyer included in their article a list

Despite the fact that the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder on December 15, 1973, many therapists continue to practice conversion therapy with the aim of “curing” those in the LGBT community (Burroway). Their efforts to cure something that is not a disorder has lead to the development of actual mental disorders – depression, anxiety, and even PTSD – in patients (Glassgold et al.). In 1969, John Bancroft, M.D., conducted a study on conversion therapy using sixteen gay men, which led to mainly negative outcomes. Of the sixteen men, 10% developed suicidal ideation, 20% developed anxiety, and 40% developed depression (Bancroft). Bancroft also reported that conversion therapy had harmful effects on 50% of the participants involved in the study. While that study may be over forty years old, the data collected remains relevant. A 2013 survey given to those who have undergone conversion therapy revealed that more than 90% of the surveyees felt emotional harm during therapy, and more than 80% continue to endure that emotional harm (Shapiro). Gay author Jallen Rix conducted the survey and had this to say about its results, “If anything, the research shows that no one changed.” In a way, Rix is

64% of LGBT students in American schools have felt unsafe while at school because of their sexual orientation. If you’re well-versed in the history of civil rights in the United States, you know that LGBT individuals have been discriminated against and attacked in this country for hundreds of years. Only in the summer of 2015 were same-sex marriages legal. Even now, in 2017, most LGBT individuals are not protected from employment and housing discrimination. “Conversion” or “reparative” therapy is still legal in 46 states. Not only is conversion therapy harmful to the patient and their families, it is not effective. It is a violation of child and human rights.

Intolerance impacts multiple sectors of society with far-reaching effects on the gay community. Due to the amount of intolerance in society these days, the gay community is facing persecution. Verbal abuse, physical violence and hate crimes are some effects of persecution against gay people. The verbal abuse is often a way to discriminate against people for their sexual orientation. Verbal abuse has a big impact on the victim’s life. The victim may feel unsure and isolated. Also, bullying and bashing are very common ways to persecute against a person who is gay. Gay bashing and bullying include negative attitudes that leads homophobic people to

Other techniques used include attempting to make patients’ behavior more stereotypically feminine or masculine, teaching heterosexual dating skills, using hypnosis to try to redirect desires and attraction, and other techniques. All of these are based on the scientifically discredited premise that being LGBT is a defect or disorder. Conversion therapy has been deemed “unnecessary, ineffective, and dangerous” by all leading professional medical and mental health associations in the United States. These groups have cautioned patients, telling them that the practices are harmful and do not work. Some of these organizations include the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pan American Health Association, saying that they provoke anxiety and depression and lack medical justification. Conversion therapy has proven to be extremely dangerous, and in some cases,

During the 1900’s, homosexuals were sent to mental institutions to “cure” them of what was thought to be a disease. There they underwent shock therapy, one of the many methods used in conversion therapy. In 1920 Sigmund Freud began the practice of changing a person 's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. In the beginning homosexuality was also deemed as “ a negative human characteristic caused by immaturity, pathology and family dynamic” (Scoolaid.net). Soon its popularity had scientists such as Eugen Steinach, Sandor Ferenczi as well as his daughter Anna Freud partake in the practice. If they were not sent to mental

The views on conversion therapy are not new but have developed over time. According to a report by an Indiana University graduate, conversion therapy aims to “cure homosexuals by changing them into heterosexuals,” (Laemmle). This includes using “electrical shock therapy, chemical aversive therapy,... religious propaganda” and other types of remedies in order to “fix” homosexuals (Ibid.). People who use conversion therapy believe that homosexuality is

The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to