Whereas societal ignorance and prejudice about same gender sexual
orientation put some gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning
individuals at risk for presenting for conversion treatment due
to family or social coercion and/or lack of information (Haldeman,
1994);
Whereas children and youth experience significant pressure to
conform with sexual norms, particularly from their peers;
Whereas children and youth often lack adequate legal protection
from coercive treatment;
Whereas some mental health professionals advocate treatments of
lesbian, gay, and bisexual people based on the premise that
homosexuality is a mental disorder (e.g., Socarides, Nicolosi, et al, 1997);
Whereas the ethics, efficacy, benefits, and potential for harm of
therapies that seek to reduce or eliminate same-gender sexual
orientation are under extensive debate in the professional
literature and the popular media (Davison, 1991; Haldeman, 1994;
Wall Street Journal, 1997);
Therefore be it resolved that APA affirms the following principles
with regard to treatments to alter sexual orientation:
that homosexuality is not a mental disorder (American Psychiatric
Association, 1973); and
that psychologists "do not knowingly participate in or condone
unfair discriminatory practices" (Ethical Principles of
Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American Psychological
Association, 1992, Principle D, p. 1600); and
that "in their work-related activities, psychologists do not engage
in unfair discrimination based on...sexual orientation" (Ethical
Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American
Psychological Association, 1992, Standard 1.10, p. 1601); and
that "in their work-related activities, psychologists respect the
rights of others to hold values, attitudes, and opinions that
differ from their own." (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and
Code of Conduct, American Psychological Association, 1992, Standard
1.09; p. 1601); and
that "psychologists...respect the rights of individuals to privacy,
confidentiality, self-determination and autonomy" (Ethical
Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American
Psychological Association, 1992, Principle D, p. 1599); and
that "psychologists are aware of cultural, individual and role
differences, including those due to...sexual orientation" and "try
to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on [such]
factors (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct,
American Psychological Association, 1992, Principle D, pp.
1599-1600); and
that "where differences of...sexual orientation ...significantly
affect psychologist's work concerning particular individuals or
groups, psychologists obtain the training, experience,
consultation, or supervision necessary to ensure the competence of
their services, or they make appropriate referrals" (Ethical
Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American
Psychological Association, 1992, Standard 1.08, p. 1601); and
that "psychologists do not make false or deceptive statements
concerning...the scientific or clinical basis for ... their
services," (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of
Conduct, American Psychological Association, 1992, Standard
3.03(a), p. 1604); and
that "psychologists attempt to identify situations in which
particular interventions...may not be applicable ...because of
factors such as...sexual orientation" (Ethical Principles of
Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American Psychological
Association, 1992, Standard 2.04 (c), p. 1603); and
that "psychologists obtain appropriate informed consent to therapy
or related procedures" [which] "generally implies that the [client
or patient] (1) has the capacity to consent, (2) has been informed
of significant information concerning the procedure, (3) has freely
and without undue influence expressed consent, and (4) consent has
been appropriately documented (Ethical Principles of Psychologists
and Code of Conduct, American Psychological Association, Standard
4.02(a), 1992, p. 1605);" and
when persons are legally incapable of giving informed consent,
psychologists obtain informed permission from a legally authorized
person, if such substitute consent is permitted by law.
that "psychologists (1) inform those persons who are legally
incapable of giving informed consent about the proposed
interventions in a manner commensurate with the persons'
psychological capacities, (2) seek their assent to those
interventions, and (3) consider such persons' preferences and best
interests (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct,
American Psychological Association, 1992, Standard 4.02(c), p.
1605); and
that the American Psychological Association "urges all mental
health professionals to take the lead in removing the stigma of
mental illness that has long been associated with homosexual
orientation" (Conger, 1975, p. 633); and
therefore be it further resolved that the American Psychological
Association opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth
and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation and
supports the dissemination of accurate information about sexual
orientation, and mental health, and appropriate interventions in
order to counteract bias that is based in ignorance or unfounded
beliefs about sexual orientation.
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