What do you think about these gay rehabilitation centers?

Question

I saw a movie with a scene involving that and it kind of disturbed me. sure it is just a movie... but there is a degree of truth to the fact that torture is used in these so called clinics of "personal" healing. Do you think gays and lesbians can convert to being straight?

Answer 1

I can't believe there are people who are still so ignorant, that they actually believe Gays and Lesbians have something wrong with them. Lets get this straight (no pun)

Some people are heterosexual
Some people are Homosexual
Some people are Lesbians
And some people swing in all directions
This is not a sin, this is not a sickness, this is human.. that's right we are all human beings stuck on this unforgiving place called earth, getting along the best way we know how.

So why don't we stop hating each other, and get along

Answer 2

I think for some people, it MIGHT be possible. Most especially those with more bisexual attractions. I do have several personal (and, coincidentally, professional) moral issues with the way these are currently run, however. By and large, changing orientation is impossible. There MAY exist exceptions, but they are few and far between. Most often, these groups, once you actually get involved, will admit that they're working to change behavior, not orientation. My biggest gripe is that they are NOT up front with people about this to begin with, but instead give them a false hope. If homosexual acts are against one's religion, and they want a support group or whatever to lead a single life (I think it would probably be cruel to the opposite sex partner if a Kinsey 6 led a straight life, but obviously not so much for bisexual people) and accept and live with their desires, I think that's fine. I absolutely draw the line, however, when dependants are forced their by their caretakers. Most especially given that the system ISN'T being honest.

I look at the whole thing the way it is right now through a cost / benefit analysis. For starters, they refuse to give any solid definition on "success", so you'll have to pick one. Either way, I question whether it's worth the hightened risk of suicide as well as other nasty psychological damages. I've been trying to see what ratio the FDA would allow on a drug, but I haven't found that out yet, nor have I been able to locate any scientific figures to compare them to (yet another professional ethics issue; zero peer-reviewed statistics on success).

Answer 3

I watched a movie a long time ago about a gay rehabilitation center and a girl was forced to go by her parents to go to one. At the end of the graduation ceremony, having to be forced to like the opposite sex, the main characters ran off with their new gay friend and made out together in the forest. I found the movie to be one of the greatest movies I have seen, I don't remember the title but I loved it. I don't think that the centers would ever work, but maybe they will find love if they get forced into one.

Answer 4

I am very pleased to see that (so far, anyway), the responses have been overwhelmingly negative regarding this issue.

In my opinion, the existence of the ex-gay movement, and the "rehab" (or more appropriately, reprogramming) centers, is morally wrong, in exactly the same way that any other form of brainwashing is morally wrong.

Here is a piece of an article about it. Judge for yourself.

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The ex-gay or exodus movement is a controversial movement that consists of several groups that seek to alter the sexual orientation of homosexual or bisexual individuals to a heterosexual orientation. Most of these groups believe that all homosexual or bisexual individuals should attempt to make this change, because many of these groups regard such sexual orientation as immoral. Ex-gay groups believe this can be achieved through counseling, prayer, and other techniques. The method in general is called reparative therapy. Most ex-gay organizations extend this to include people who identify as transgender, on the basis that they consider such feelings or behaviour to be related to homosexuality.

The movement is primarily based in the United States (though it exists in other countries such as Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom), and is largely led by evangelical and fundamentalist Christians (see also Homosexuality and Christianity).

The modern ex-gay movement has been broadly condemned by nearly all major psychological, psychiatric, and medical associations. Today, these associations point to a lack of scientific evidence suggesting that homosexuals can change their orientation and argue that homosexuals have no reason to do so aside from societal pressure. They say repressing those feelings would likely cause future psychological damage.[1] These assertions are vigorously disputed by those in the ex-gay movement.

Because of the differences of opinion between modern medicine and Fundamentalist Christianity's views on what homosexuality actually is, establishing a dialogue between the two groups is difficult at best.

Answer 5

Reprogramming Centres, ecch. It won't work. You are born with your sexual identity - God gave it to you - and these places are nothing more than brainwashing centres run by right wing fanatics who cannot accept homosexuality. Luckily I don't think we have any in Canada, we are so much more relaxed about gays and lesbians up here.

Ask a straight who believes in these places how they would like it if they were forced to make out with someone of the same sex - that's basically the same as asking a gay guy to make out with a girl. It's unnatural and unhealthy and is, inded, torture.

Answer 6

I think it's wrong to try and convert someone. People are the way they are and should be left alone to live their lives. Being gay is not a choice, you are born that way. It's like back in the old days when people used to make left handed kids change to use their right hand. That was wrong, and so are the rehab centers. We need to be encouraging people to love and accept themselves no matter what. Not trying to shame them into being what society thinks they should be.

Answer 7

No. It can be very harmful to try and is fake anyways. You cannot turn a lesbian straight just like they cannot turn you gay.

Can gay people change their sexual orientation or gender identity? (FAQ from PFLAG page)

There are religious and secular organizations which sponsor campaigns and studies suggesting that GLBT people can change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their assertions assume that there is something wrong with being GLBT - the largest problem is, in fact, society's intolerance of difference. PFLAG believes that it is our anti-GLBT attitudes, laws and policies that need to change, not our GLBT loved ones.

Many of the studies and campaigns suggesting that GLBT people can change are based on ideological biases rather than solid science. Claims of conversion from gay to straight tend to be poorly documented, full of flawed research with a lack of follow-up. No studies show proven long-term changes in gay or transgender people, and many reported changes are based solely on behavior and not a person's actual self-identity. The American Psychological Association has stated that scientific evidence shows that reparative therapy (therapy which claims to change GLBT people) does not work and that it can do more harm than good.

Answer 8

Firstly let me say that yes such centers exist. Secondly let me say that no, homosexuals cannot be changed to heterosexuals -- anymore than the reverse. Adequately motivated homosexuals however can be "retrained" to go back in the closet -- and that's really what the ex-gay movement is about. It isn't about people becoming heterosexuals with no homosexual thoughts in the deeps of their minds. It is about homosexuals who are ashamed and self-hating finding emotional support to go back, deep in the closet. I challenge 1000 ex-gays who can document their own prior exclusive attraction to men and claim to be free from homosexual desire to be tested using a spread of gay porn and penile plethysmography to determine whether or not they are still aroused by male/male interactions. I predict a nearly 100% arousal pattern if such a study is done.

Regards,

Reynolds Jones
http://www.rebuff.org
[e-mail]

Answer 9

hey where do i sign up? maybe there i could find a gf..lol just kidding my luck, instead of the lunch line i would be in the line for shock therapy..lol. I think it is a crazy idea thought up by straight ppl who have nothing better to do then harass others. Torturing someone is not right.

Answer 10

They scare me too. I read the blog of this kid who was sent to one by his parents, it was just horrifying to read. All they do is cause more self-loathing. People can't "cure" homosexuality any more than they can be "turned" gay. I recall reading that one of the "pioneers" of the anti-gay movement was found in a gay bar a few years later.