HEALTH (Mental and Physical, Ex-Gay Therapies – Warning!)

Warning! Ex-Gay Ministries and Reparative Therapy 
Some homosexual persons claim to have experienced a change in their sexual orientation. Their stories are their stories and we should not try to change them if they are sincerely happy.

With that said, however, the vast majority of our brothers and sisters who are same-sex attracted entered "ex-gay ministries" or "reparative therapy" under the belief of a homosexual orientation being morally inferior and a heterosexual orientation being morally superior. Such a belief is a dangerous untruth that is used by certain religious groups to not only shame GLBT people, but to also deny them equality in society and full membership in their churches.

The truth is that God created and loves gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people exactly as they are without reservation.

While the people behind ex-gay ministries will rush to tell you about those in the gay community who have made unhealthy choices, they engage in deception by omission -- never speaking to the fact of all those happy, loving, faithful families that include and accept gay people.

Furthermore, ex-gay ministries are opposed by every major health and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association.
www.soulforce.org/article/726  

American Psychological Association:

Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality

Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/guidelines.html 

Sexual Orientation & Marriage,
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/policy/marriage.html 

Sexual Orientation, Parents, & Children
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/policy/parents.html 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov 

GAYHEALTH.COM. http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/aboutus/index.html

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. http://www.gmhc.org/ 

Human Rights Campaign provides information on LGBT heath issues including hospital ratings, Health Care Equality, and more. See http://www.hrc.org/issues/health.asp 

PFLAG Hartford, Library: You will find an extensive list of books on LGBT issues. http://www.pflaghartford.org/library.html