Reparative therapy is any formal attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. It can include prayer, religious conversion, one-on-one counseling, or group therapy. Greater Boston PFLAG concurs with the conclusion of leading organizations that "homosexuality is not a mental disorder” and opposes all portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual people as mentally ill and in need of treatment due to their sexual orientation.
American Academy of Pediatrics
“Some adolescents are uncertain about their sexual orientation; for them, a ‘counseling or psychotherapeutic initiative’ aimed at clarification might be useful. Therapy directed specifically at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation."
Policy statement, "Homosexuality and Adolescence," American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, 1993-OCT.
American Counseling Association
"[The ACA] 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, mental health, and appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based in ignorance or unfounded beliefs about same-gender orientation."
Action by American Counseling Association Governing Council," 1999-APR.
American Psychiatric Association
“The APA opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as “reparative” or “conversion” therapy, which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder, or based on the assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual orientation.”
“Fact Sheet: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues.” American Psychiatric Association, 1998
American Psychological Association
“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.”
“Resolution on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth in the Schools.” Resolutions Related to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues, American Psychological Association, 1993.
National Association of Social Workers
"Social stigmatization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people is widespread and is a primary motivating factor in leading some people to seek sexual orientation changes. Sexual orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual orientation is both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrate that reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be harmful… social workers have the responsibility to clients to explain the prevailing knowledge concerning sexual orientation and the lack of data reporting positive outcomes with reparative therapy.“
"Policy Statement: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues." Social Work Speaks, 4th ed., NASW, 1997.
Joint statement endorsed by: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers and National Education Association
“Reparative therapy… is based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions… [The groups who have signed on to this document] have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus there is no need for a ‘cure’.”