Reparative Therapy? Not so much

The American Psychological Association spoke out again on the dangers of reparative therapy, and went so far as to say attempts to change a person's sexuality could be harmful, leading to depression and suicidal tendencies.

When I was much younger, I struggled to accept that I was gay, and I couldn't point to a religion or belief system that said it wrong, but more so that learned early on from society as a whole that being gay was wrong. But I can remember being 8 years old and wanting to be around men, wanting that connection and not thinking about it in terms of sexuality. Once I hit 12, I knew I was gay, and it scared me. Looking back, I'm not sure why, other than a big dose of internalized homophobia. I just did not want to be different, and I did everything I could to hide my sexuality from myself and from others. As I grew older, I kept thinking it was a phase I would grow out of. However, the self-denial also gave me time to figure it out, and I slowly came to accept my sexuality. Over the last 12 years (when I met Tom), I have done a lot of work around my internalized homophobia, and I'm sure there's much more I need to do. I still have much sympathy for those that don't want to be gay, and yet I get very angry with religions that tell people they shouldn't be gay. That struggle is hard, but to carry the weight of organizational prejudice and judgment is unfair and hypocritical. I'm glad the APA has spoken out against this sideways attempt to manipulate people into thinking therapy is a solution, when the simple truth is that being gay isn't the problem.