This is written in response to Nathan Ruark’s article on April 15 titled “Benefits of reparative therapy for LGBT community.”

Discrimination is defined as “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things.” In your attempt to show that the APA has discriminated against reparative therapy supporters, I concur. The leaders of the APA have discerned correctly that these supporters rely on outdated evidence and unfounded research, and therefore, are to be excluded from APA events. Reparative therapists operate under the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder. This has been proven untrue in a number of studies, and not just studies of the APA. If the entire reasoning behind reparative therapy is flawed, it should be discriminated against. It holds no scientific authority and is repeatedly proven untrue. Would a respectable scientific association accept studies conducted under the presumption that the earth is flat? Of course not. The earth’s roundness is demonstrably true. Should the APA then accept studies conducted under a faulty presumption? Discrimination in scientific studies is a good thing. It prevents us from coming to stupid conclusions.

It is true that no study has proven negative effects for patients of reparative therapy. It is also true that no scientifically adequate study has proven positive effects for patients. Anecdotal evidence is readily available, claiming both cures and harms, but that is not adequate … To suggest that the APA should accept flawed research is an insult to the association’s integrity.

This is not to diminish a person’s right to choose. A gay person should have every right to seek reparative therapy. If someone were to tell me that he has been “cured” of his homosexuality, I’d believe him … It is ridiculous for an ex-gay to then claim that because he is no longer gay, all gay people can change. Everyone encounters different experiences. This isn’t science. It’s practical wisdom, but the APA is only interested in science.

Alan Kotenko

GVSU student