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Noted U.S. Psychologists Condemn Gay Activist Influence on APA

Accuse mental-health associations of allowing gay activists to distort research

By Gudrun Schultz

LOS ANGELES, United States, December 20, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Senior members of the psychological community delivered a scathing condemnation of the American Psychological Association (APA), at the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) conference last month.

Dr. Nicolas Cummings, Ph.D, a former president of the APA, said pro-homosexual social activist influence has undermined the scientific legitimacy of psychological research within the organization.

Dr. Cummings charged that research by the APA is now limited to projects where “they know what the outcome is going to be…only research with predictably favorable outcomes is permissible.” (reported by Linda Ames Nicolosi for the NARTH website).

Cummings expressed his concern over the APA’s backing for legalized gay marriage, which was recommended by the APA in 2004 because it would “promote mental health,” among members of the gay community. That decision, said Cummings, was based upon vague research which indicated “loving relationships are healthy’’ in a general sense.

“That was one of the worst resolutions, ” Cummings said. “ When we speak in the name of psychology we are to speak only from facts and clinical expertise.” Otherwise “very soon the public will see us as a discredited organization—just another opinionated voice shouting and shouting.”

Dr. Rogers Wright, Ph.D, co-author with Cummings of their newly released book Destructive Trends in Mental Health, criticized the APA for failing to live up to the organization’s long-held ideal of openness to diversity. The organization deliberately avoided issuing a response to the book and, at first, forbade its member-publications from reviewing it.

“So much for diversity and open-mindedness,” said Wright.

Psychiatrist Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., spoke at length on the ethical misuse of scientific literature in recent legal cases that have laid the foundation for major changes in family-law policy.

Satinover accused mental-health associations of allowing gay activists to distort research in order to support their own social and political agendas, on a scale he finds “appalling beyond imagination.”

 Among the methods used to falsely support the gay agenda, he identified researchers who used their own work as references, who used active members of pro-paedophilia groups as sources, and who ignored current conflicting research in favor of obsolete, discredited work.

Dr. Dean Byrd, Ph. D, Chairman of NARTH’s Scientific Advisory Committee, read from a letter he sent to the APA, criticizing the organization for exercising a double standard toward individuals who express a desire to return to heterosexuality:
 
”Though not all of the patients that NARTH members treat are religious, many are. Is it not a blatant disregard for their religious values and an affront to real diversity to marginalize these individuals by failing to acknowledge their right to choose how they will adapt sexually?

APA’s continuous message of respect for diversity rings hollow if it does not represent different worldviews…either you support client autonomy or you do not; either you support client self-determination or you do not; either your actions reflect diversity, or they do not.”

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, and is the world’s largest association of psychologists.

See related articles:

APA Endorses Homosexual “Marriage”
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/jul/04072902.html

APA Ignored Evidence that Homosexual Behavior is Part of Psychiatric Disorder Says Noted Psychiatrist
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/05072502.html

For the full article on NARTH go to:
 http://narth.com/docs/insiders.html

For the APA’s full statement in support of legal civil unions between gays, see:
http://www.apa.org/releases/gaymarriage.html

 

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