Did NARTH Just Diss Exodus?

Jim Burroway

January 28th, 2012

On Thursday, I thought there might be a split of sorts emerging between Exodus and NARTH when Exodus removed their books on Reparative Therapy from the Exodus bookstore as it seeks to change its focus towards the more religious, ministerial aspects of the ex-gay movement. Recently, Exodus president Alan Chambers said that “99.9%” of people he  has known in the ex-gay movement did not experience a change in their sexual orientation, but rather changed their identity and behavior. Now NARTH, which sees itself as a “scientific” organization, has continued to cling to the promise of change in sexual orientation itself. Perhaps in response to the statements coming Chambers, NARTH’s board of directors yesterday issued a statement from their board of directors on “sexual orientation change,” which includes this shot at their erstwhile religious allies:

Finally, it also needs to be observed that reports on the potential for sexual orientation change may be unduly pessimistic based on the confounding factor of type of intervention.  Most of the recent research on homosexual sexual orientation change has focused on religiously mediated outcomes which may differ significantly from outcomes derived through professional psychological care.  It is not unreasonable to anticipate that the probability of change would be greater with informed psychotherapeutic care, although definitive answers to this question await further research.  NARTH remains highly interested in conducting such research, pursuant only to the acquisition of sufficient funding.

Kevin

January 28th, 2012

This is such a canard! NARTH presents itself as a legitimate psychologically-oriented organization. Truth is their “studies” have never been peer-accepted. Witches’ brew has as much empirical support for changing orientation as their interventions.

Ben In Oakland

January 28th, 2012

informed psycho-therapeutic care?

The only true word in there is PSYCHO!

AlexND

January 28th, 2012

The most important part of the quote above is the last sentence.

NARTH remains highly interested in conducting such research, pursuant only to the acquisition of sufficient funding.

As if the ‘research’ is where any ‘sufficient funding’ will actually go, right? Riiiiight. . .

Joseph Singer

January 28th, 2012

Just got an ad for Liberty University on my RSS feed of BTB!

Steve

January 28th, 2012

Taking the spiritual abuse out of the equation would actually be a small step forward. Still nonsense of course, but not quite as harmful on some levels.

Charles

January 28th, 2012

Ok, anyone want to sign up to be one of their test subjects? This is all baloney. Is there any credible evidence to show that someone can be transformed into being homosexual by any means except by the immense societal pressure to be what is considered normal? Let them take an equal number of straight men and gay men and then try to change their sexual orientation. I would like to see the outcome of that bizarre test.

Eric

January 28th, 2012

You mean they didn’t finish the email with a request for 10 dollars?

Eric in Oakland

January 29th, 2012

Ha. If they were really a scientific organization they would accept the science that informs the opinions of every other legitimate professional medical and health organization. Their only reason for rejecting the available science is religious dogma. It is also funny that they call themselves a “research” organization but freely admit here that they don’t have the funds to conduct actual research.

grantdale

January 29th, 2012

The short answer to your question is “No.”

NARTH is essentially saying the same thing as Exodus, and neither are recent talking points from either of them:

1) “change” is on a continuum (with both using equally weaselly wording that reframes a failure to become heterosexual, or even change homosexual attractions, as some sort of a successful change in sexual orientation.)

2) “professional” counseling might “help”, on top of the Exodus religious environment.

Also still unsure why one would think that RT books have been removed, except that some have claimed it to have happened.

Yeah, sure; the unvarnished RT books by Nicolosi/Moberly, as example, are no longer advertised on-site at Exodus … but the overwhelming bulk of the remaining books are exclusively, or near enough, promoting RT. Often by stealth, RT is embedded throughout Exodus’ promoted books, articles, DVDs, LWO conferences, newsletters etc etc.

Beyond that, anyone want to offer me the odds on it taking all of 10 minutes before any of the Exodus member ministries would happy provide Nicolosi and Moberly to the punters?

RT is far, far from banished at Exodus; they’re simply finding it prudent these days to use bait-and-switch in yet another part of their MO.

Paul Mc

January 30th, 2012

Wait,, NARTH is how old? How many clients go through its doors?

Yet it can’t find the small amount of funds it would take to produce a study using data IT SHOULD ALREADY be monitoring? It should ALREADY be able to produce a first level qualitative analysis. Where is it?

This, from the leading lights of the RT industry. Utterly laughable.

The truth is, IMO, they don’t want the study because they don’t have the data. And they want the funds to supplement the probably decreasing income streams.

CPT_Doom

January 30th, 2012

@Paul Mc – and meanwhile, as NARTH apparently goes begging for the cash necessary to do actual follow-up on their own patients, NOM is able to pour money into any state with an LGBT equality fight. Strange how the same people who keep insisting that “change” is possible won’t put their money where their mouth is.

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