Association Statements

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In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of disorders.
Prior to that, and since then, many interventions among professionals have been aimed at changing the sexual orientation of lesbians and gay men. The clinical term for this is "reparative therapy." This involves attempts to change the direction of one's physical, emotional and psychological attractions from same-gendered persons to other-gendered persons. Reparative therapy is rooted in the belief that being gay or lesbian is pathological.Today, no professional mental health associations support "reparative" therapy. Homosexuality is no longer viewed as an "illness," or "disorder, " thus the idea of "repairing" or "reparative" therapy is a non-issue. Tragically, however, organizations do exist that condone and offer reparative therapy.

Gay and lesbian adolescents who experience discomfort with their sexual orientation are more likely to benefit from accurate information, peer supports, and supportive interventions to assist in the successful acceptance of one's sexual orientation, versus the unrealistic pursuit to eliminate what appears to be inherent, and unchangeable. Many interventions aimed at changing the sexual orientation of lesbians and gay men have succeeded only in reducing sexual behavior and self-esteem rather than in creating or increasing attractions to the other gender.(J.C. Gonsiorek & J.D. Weinrich (Eds.) Homosexuality: Research Implications for Public Policy Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1991, pp. 49-160)

December 1973
The APA deplores all public and private discrimination against homosexuals in such areas as employment, housing, public accommodations, and licensing, and declares that no burden of proof of such judgment, capacity, or reliability shall be placed on these individuals greater than that imposed on any other person. Further, the APA supports and urges the enactment of civil rights legislation at the local, state, and federal level that would offer citizens who engage in acts of homosexuality the same protections now guaranteed to others on the basis of race, creed, color, etc. Further, the APA supports and urges the repeal of all discriminatory legislation singling out homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. (American Psychological Association: Discrimination against homosexuals. American Psychological Association Policy Statements on Lesbian and Gay Issues. Washington, D.C., American Psychological Association, 1991)

January 1975 American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists NASP)
The APA and NASP shall take a leaderhip in promoting societal and familial attitudes and behaviors that affirm the dignity and rights, within educational environments, of all lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths, including those with physical or mental disabilities and from all ethnic/racial backgrounds and classes. The APA and NASP support providing a safe and secure educational atmosphere in which all youths, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths may obtain an education free from discrimination, harassent, violence, and abuse, and which promotes an understanding and acceptance of self. (American Psychological Association: Discrimination against homosexuals. American Psychological Association Policy Statements on Lesbian and Gay Issues. Washington, D.C., American Psychological Association, 1991)

February 1993 American Psychiatric Association (APA)
The APA deplores all public and private discrimination against homosexuals in such areas as employment, housing, public accommodations, and licensing, and declares that no burden of proof of such judgment, capacity, or reliability shall be placed on homosexuals greater than that imposed on any other persons. Further, the APA supports and urges the enactment of civil rights legislation at the local, state and federal level that would offer homosexual citizens the same protections now guaranteed to others on the basis of race, creed, color, etc. (American Psychiatric Association: Gay and lesbian issues. Fact Sheet. Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Association, 1994.)

November 1973 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Social workers are guided by the NASW Code of Ethics which bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation...NASW believes that non judgmental attitudes toward sexual orientation allow social workers to offer optimal support and services to lesbian and gay people. NASW affirms its commitment to work toward full social and legal acceptance of lesbian and gay people. The profession must also act to eliminate and prevent discriminatory statutes, policies, and actions that diminish the quality of life for lesbian and gay people and that force many to live their lives in the closet. (National Association of Social Workers: Lesbian and Gay Issues. Washington, D.C., NASW Delegate Assembly, 1993.)

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