from Social Issues

On the APA Endorsement Of Gay Marriage

by Frank York

July 29, 2004 - National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) President Joseph Nicolosi and Linda Nicolosi, co-authors of A Parent's Guide To Preventing Homosexuality, have expressed concern over the American Psychological Association's recent endorsement of gay marriage.

The American Psychological Association issued its endorsement of gay marriage, foster parenting, and gay adoptions at its conference in Hawaii on July 29.

The APA's endorsement was based on recommendations from the APA's Working Group on Same-Sex Families and Relationships, a group of gay and lesbian clinicians who have been prominent in gay causes.

Dr. Nicolosi noted that although the APA considers itself a scientific organization, "They've let political activists take over the APA, and they are giving us their own, values-laden 'take' on the issues."

Nicolosi observed that because the APA has started out "with the foundational belief that there's no real difference between the genders, then mothers and fathers start to look interchangeable. With such a worldview, gay and straight relationships look the same; then gay marriage starts to look as if it were no different from the natural, biological family."

But the APA's foundational beliefs are flawed, says Nicolosi. "And, when the research comes in--as indeed it has--showing gays and lesbians to be less psychologically healthy than straights, then the APA simply dismisses it, saying that the psychological problems are due to society's homophobia."

NARTH Publications Director Linda Nicolosi is equally troubled by the APA's endorsement of gay marriage and believes the APA should openly define what it means by "healthy sexuality," "healthy families," "healthy development," and "self-actualization."

She notes, "Without agreement on these basic terms, what we have is one philosophical camp--the APA--disagreeing with another philosophical camp, the traditionalists. But the irony is, the APA gets to have the unfair advantage of calling itself 'scientific' while the other side is labeled 'religious.' In reality, the APA is recommending nothing more than its own secular humanist worldview--a worldview that most of America simply doesn't share."

Robert Spitzer, M.D. -- longtime prominent member of the American Psychiatric Association, and a strong ally of gay activists -- says his own organization, the American Psychiatric Association, won't likely change its views on gay issues and reorientation therapy.

"There's a gay-activist group that's very strong and very vocal and recognized officially by the American Psychiatric Association...there's nobody to give the other viewpoint...There may be a few people...but they don't talk."

(Quoted in the 2004 video, "I Do Exist")