Lambda United

NARTH, The National Association for Research and Therapy ofHomosexuality, is a for profit organization of professionals who makeunsupported claims well out of the realm of respectable science. Theyclaim that homosexuals have a type of “psychological dysfunction” aswell as other unfounded slanderous statements aimed in a harmful anddestructive manner at the Gay and Lesbian community. Furthermore, theyclaim that they can “cure” homosexuality. They attempt to validatetheir claims with unfounded research and questionable methodology. Noneof their so called scientific articles can be found in any reputablepublications or have been reviewed by any scholarly peers. This meansNARTH is not accepted by the main stream scientific community andshould not be accepted by our community.

The message thatNARTH propagates is harmful! Their methods such as reparative therapyare labeled dangerous by the American Psychiatric Association and theAmerican Medical Association. According to the APA, “The potentialrisks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxietyand self-destructive behavior1”. For this very reason we have cometogether to protest NARTH at their 2009 conference titled, Preventing& Treating Sexual Identity Confusion in the Lives of Children,Adolescents and Adults. This protest will be held at the West PalmBeach Marriott on Okeechobee Blvd on November 21st at 11:00 in themorning. Our ultimate mission is to stop NARTH from emotionally abusingchildren and spreading their propaganda in our community.