Psychology Today has issued a statement saying they will no longer accept ad for “conversion/ reparative therapy.” Huffington Post said in an article that,
Therapists who offer the gay “cure” will no longer be allowed to advertise their services in the directory pages of Psychology Today, a magazine and website that includes profiles of tens of thousands of mental health professionals.The Advocate reported that,
The news, announced Wednesday, is something of a turnaround for the company. On Tuesday, Charles Frank, who runs the organization’s directory of therapists, informed The Huffington Post that “We take care not to sit in judgement of others by allowing or denying individual participation” in the directory. While Psychology Today was not a “fan” of conversion therapy, Frank said, “the Therapy Directory cannot pick winners.”
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group, first pressed Psychology Today in February to remove all advertisements that purported to help gay people become straight through counseling, a practice that is roundly condemned by the mainstream mental health community. “By offering a venue for these medically-debunked practices, Psychology Today is lending them a veneer of credibility -- propping up a fraudulent industry that takes advantage of vulnerable individuals, including children and families,” HRC spokesman Fred Sainz wrote in a letter to the CEO and publisher of Psychology Today.
“Not only is there no evidence that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression can be ‘cured,’ but research shows that ‘conversion therapy’ can lead to depression, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior, particularly among young people,” Sainz added in a press release. “Psychology Today’s executives have a unique opportunity to take definitive action to protect the LGBT community from these harmful and deceptive practices. We hope they hear our plea.”It is time for Connecticut to ban “conversion/ reparative therapy” for minors like California.
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