Thursday, March 26, 2009
The annual Pride London parade is a focal point for the UK's gay community
A significant number of psychiatrists and therapists are trying to help lesbian or gay patients become heterosexual, according to research.
This is despite a lack of evidence that such treatments can be beneficial or even safe, the study in the journal BMC Psychiatry said.
The research found that one in six of the 1,400 mental health professionals surveyed reported having helped at least one patient curtail their gay, lesbian or bisexual feelings.
One in 25 psychiatrists or therapists said they would try to treat someone who was having such emotions if asked today.
Professor Michael King, from University College London, who worked on the study, said: "There is very little evidence to show that attempting to treat a person's homosexual feelings is effective and, in fact, it can actually be harmful. So it is surprising that a significant minority of practitioners still offer this help to their clients."
One anonymous professional who took part in the study said they would help a patient if they held a religious belief that forbade homosexuality. Another said: "The individuals I have worked with have all been very unhappy about their sexuality and wish they were heterosexual."
Professor King now wants to raise awareness amongst those trying to treat homosexuality.
He added: "The best approach is to help people adjust to their situation, to value them as people and show them that there is nothing whatever pathological about their sexual orientation. Both mental health practitioners and society at large must help them to confront prejudice in themselves and in others."
Academics at St George's, University of London, helped compile the research, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust. A new website - www.treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk - is also being set up where those who have received such treatment, as well as those who have administered it, can provide their own views.
Derek Munn, director of public affairs at Stonewall, the gay and lesbian equality organisation, said: "So-called gay cure therapies are wholly discredited. The conclusions of this research are a welcome reminder that what lesbian and gay people need is equal treatment by society, not misguided treatment by a minority of health professionals."
I was going to post this last night but I found myself running way out of time; and before you ask, no I wasn't busy doing sex acts of any kind - unfortunately! I find myself spending more time posting comments on older posts than actually creating new posts; that and speaking to my girlfriend and then trying to make up with my boyfriend because he can't get through on the phone because it's busy. My life, although simple and uncomplicated these days, seems to be anything but for some reason..............
I'm only joking dear readers, I am very happy with life, where I find myself and those I find within it; I would not change a thing. Talking of not changing a thing the above was printed in the Metro newspaper yesterday, I've copied it from their website, the press copy was slightly different. It was front page news - it must have been a slow day on the news front; there's like a global recession, wars, innocent people killed and unfortunate people starving to death due to circumstance! So let's hold the front page for health professionals who are trying to find a cure for gays, the irony is plain to see isn't it?
For the most part I found it highly amusing, at points it made me laugh aloud, but still how pathetic. I mean I'm pretty certain you do not choose your sexuality, it chooses you for whatever reason. It may take some time to become comfortable with the realisation that you are gay, it did with me, but thereafter you just get on with life. I'm sure you don't wake up one morning and think to hell with this shagging women lark lets go try it with a man, I know I didn't and neither did any of my gay friends. They could never imagine themselves being straight and likewise my straight friends could never imagine themselves being gay. There is no logical choice to be made in this respect.
So how can anyone find a cure for sexuality? It's not an illness nor a disease; it's just fate or how we were chosen to be, end of story. I can appreciate the fact that those who are subjected to homophobia may find it unpleasant but that would surely not make you unhappy being gay and make you want to become straight? How can you ever change such feelings within yourself? I just so love guys, that's why I'm gay, they turn me on and I enjoy becoming intimate with them. I have never truly questioned as to why because there is no answer.
If your gay it's the most natural thing in the world to find other men attractive; it's the most erotic experience to kiss, snog and undress them; and it's the best feeling you could ever imagine to have sex with them. But if you're not gay you would not understand this train of thought; so it begs the question how many of these health professionals are gay themselves? Rhetorical question boys and girls, answers not necessary!
Being gay has nothing to do with the mind, nothing at all; but it has everything to do with your heart, love is illogical - love is following your heart and not your mind. How can anyone ever question another persons heartfelt feelings? And how can anyone ever hope to change the feelings within another persons heart to such a dramatic extent?
There are many evils in the world I wish we could find a cure for and there are many a peoples story worthy of front page news. Being gay does not even register on either scale.
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