CONTACT:
Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, or Beth Harrison, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com
President Obama Wrong in Denying Youth Voluntary Access to Therapy
White House Supports National Law Prohibiting Talk Therapy for Minors, Even as States Say No to Similar Bans
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The
Obama Administration released a statement yesterday supporting efforts
for a national law denying minors voluntary access to counseling from a
licensed professional to deal with unwanted same-sex attractions.
The statement was in response to petitions on WhiteHouse.gov
regarding a 17-year-old transgender youth, Leelah Alcorn, who,
according to a New York Times story, committed suicide after leaving a
note about a therapist who had tried to convert her back to being boy.
Licensed clinical professional counselor Christopher Doyle, of the International Healing Foundation (IHF, www.comingoutloved.com), and Equality And Justice For All (www.equalityandjusticeforall.org) says those who voluntarily seek therapy often do so as a result of sexual abuse and should have access to the help they desire.
“The
whole premise of Mr. Obama’s statement—calling this counseling
‘conversion’ therapy is a misnomer,” Doyle said. “Youth that seek
therapy for unwanted same-sex attractions or gender identity conflicts
believe there are specific causes for their attractions, such as sexual
abuse, and this therapy helps them resolve those causes and the desires
that are a consequence. Counselors are not converting gay youth—they’re
actually affirming their clients’ desires to live a heterosexual life.
These laws would be a grave disservice to young people who wish to
access counseling from licensed mental health care providers. No
government intervention should seek to hinder this sincere desire for
help.”
Doyle went onto say:
“Leelah’s
is a very sad story, and we may never know everything about her
individual and unique situation. Our hearts go out to Leelah’s family.
But there are many other sexually confused youth and questioning teens
who would like the option of therapy that will help them resolve
unwanted feelings and sexual attractions. To deny them access to
licensed mental health care is unconscionable. It’s without excuse that
this White House would rather keep these young people trapped in their
struggle than allow them voluntarily to get help.”
Doyle
pointed out that, in spite of the call for a national law banning talk
therapy for minors, last year, 15 states across the country rejected
similar bills, and already this year, Arizona, Virginia, West Virginia,
Iowa and several others have voted down these destructive bills. Just
this week, the Colorado Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee
rejected a proposed bill there that would have banned talk therapy for
minors.
More
than 50,000 licensed medical and mental health professionals support
the rights of youth to receive Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE)
therapy, including the American Association of Christian Counselors, the
Alliance for Scientific Integrity and Therapeutic Choice, the Catholic
Medical Association, the American College of Pediatricians,
International Network of Orthodox (Jewish) Mental Health Professionals
and the Christian Medical & Dental Association.
IHF will host a Counselor Training Program
on May 19-21 in Washington, D.C., as an outreach and training for
counselors and therapists to compassionately work with those who are
conflicted with sexual orientation issues and are seeking help.
Equality and Justice for All will also be co-hosting a Safe Exit Summit
on Oct. 2-3, also in Washington, D.C. The event will focus on equipping
churches to become safe exits for individuals seeking to resolve
unwanted homosexual attractions.
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To interview Christopher Doyle, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
International Healing Foundation
(IHF), founded in 1990, believes some live a heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual, transgender or transsexual life, while others are unsure about
their sexuality and seek to explore alternatives. IHF upholds the
rights to self-determination and values the right of autonomy, and is
committed to helping people on their journey of self discovery. IHF’s
goal is to promote healthy individuals and relationships, while
assisting in the healing of families, communities and places of worship.
Equality And Justice For All
is the only civil rights organization that works to further the general
welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and equitable laws
and policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual
self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization
strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual
orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families
can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society.
