One in six psychiatrists has tried to 'turn gays straight'

[Davok]

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 54273.html

Psychotherapists are offering to help "cure" gays and lesbians of their homosexuality without any evidence that such treatment is beneficial or safe. One in six said they had tried to turn gays straight, or reduce their gay or lesbian feelings, even though the mainstream medical view is that this is impossible.

What Madness!

[Critical.Hurt]

yeah well tards with degrees , i lost hope in humanity a long time ago anyway

[starseed]

I read about this the other day. It is hard to imagine that 17% of psychiatrists would willingly inflict this psychological torture on their patients. One would expect that their education in the field of the human mind would prevent them from letting religion dictate their actions.

[OrangeFu]

It's not all dictated by religious beliefs

[starseed]

I think the root of the reason homosexuality was shunned in modern western society is Christianity. Until Christianity became popular, homosexuality was not even talked about because no one saw it as unnatural. I do not think these psychiatrists would try to change someone's sexual orientation if homosexuality was not a factor that causes people to be discriminated against.

[VanuMorrison]

The original biblical proscription on homosexuality comes from the Old Testament and is therefore Jewish in origin, as is Christianity itself. In the New Testament the teachings of Jesus are quite clearly based on redemption being available for all those excluded by religious authority, which is central to us 'gays-who-have-faith'. It's only in the writings of Paul that homosexuality is mentioned and then I believe it is in the context of temple prostitution, a practice Paul abhors because of his stance against human slavery.

That aside the church has certainly been guilty of gross hypocrisy, condemning this 'sin' while at the same time ignoring its presence amongst its own priests and ministers. But remember, homophobia also exists in many countries where Christianity is not present, for example in the Muslim world. It's not just a problem of Christianity, it seems to be more a problem for cultures built on the dominance of hetero males to the detrimant of gays, but also more so women. Seems to me that it's only when that 'alpha male' imperative is lost (e.g. when women gain more equality) that the prohibitions on homosexuality become relaxed.

Oooooo controversial ....

[starseed]

I understand that point, but from the acceptance we had back in the greco-roman times, to intolerance in more recent times, its hard to see how the Abrahamaic religions do not play a major part. In india for example, hinduism may not be particularly homophobic (the kama sutra encourages homosexual behaviour) but there is a lot of homophobia in that country today. I am guessing that probably has more to do with England bringing over their homophobic laws when India was part of the British empire.

Without the influence of those religions, I think cultures are far more accepting. For one example, Native Americans respected the gay and transgendered people amongst them.

[Critical.Hurt]

Starseed is right homosexuality was a comon thing for the native tahitians for example
when all the mens left for war one man stay disguised as a woman in the camp to protect them , he had to act like a woman , nowadays they calls them Réré , but its a cultural thing

SO

BLAME THE WHITE FOLKS

[VanuMorrison]

I'm not convinced by the idea that greco-roman society openly tolerated homosexuality at all.

It was tolerated when a master 'owned' a slave or someone of lesser status, male or female. (Romans also had a huge hang up with oral sex!)

That's still different from the idea of all gay and lesbian relationships being equally accepted.

In Greece it was tolerated between men and boys, not something we'd be at all comfortable with today.

For native americans, it was acceptable so long as the gay man behaved as a woman.

Just because male same sex acts are promoted in other cultures does not mean they are tolerant of what we think of as gay. If a melanesian tribe requires younger boys to perform oral sex on older boys it's not because they think all their men are gay, it's because in their culture a man needs to be 'reborn' male because their natural birth of a woman isn't sufficient. The boys eventually gain manhood and go on to live hetero lives, any who exhibit same sex behaviour are looked down upon. (ref. The Anthropology of Self and Behavior By Gerald Michael Erchak)

I absolutely agree that western society and our religions are responsible for centuries of hate and discrimination, not just of gays but of a great many people. I'm just not persuaded that somehow our society is more corrupt than any other.

*phew* writing that was like being back at uni.

[starseed]

Very good points, I have had a lingering interest in anthropology and history, maybe I should sit down and read a few books on this subject when I am not so busy.

[VanuMorrison]

It wouldn't be me without finding a vid clip

[LukeCool]

I should work harder into my social sciences degree and become a shrink that trys to turn straits gay, lol.