Ex-Gay Movement

Since the American Psychological Association (APA) took homosexuality off the books as a psychological disorder in 1973, the debate over reparative therapy—an attempt to change someone's sexual orientation to heterosexuality—has continued with little rigorous research. In 2009, the APA adopted a resolution stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation. Many question the ethics of treating someone for a condition which is not considered a disorder and posit that reparative therapy risks traumatizing the patient. Therapists also disagree about what constitutes a return to heterosexuality—whether it is celibacy, an absence of homosexual attraction, or something beyond that. Amid these concerns, organizations such as Exodus International have run reparative therapy programs with mixed success.

Featured Articles

No Straight Shot
No Straight Shot
More evangelical therapists move from changing orientation to embracing faith identity for gays.
Ex-Gay Reality Check
An Older, Wiser Ex-Gay Movement
The 30-year-old ministry now offers realistic hope for homosexuals.
No Easy Victory
No Easy Victory
"A plea from a Christian husband and father who, day by day, resists his homosexual desires."
Exodus International Fragments Over Focus
Exodus International Fragments Over Focus
Ex-gay coalition shifts from reparative therapy to discipleship after losing prominent partners.