Homosexuality Myths and Truths Homosexuality Myths and Truths Copyright © Melvin W. Wong, Ph.D Focus On The Family Singapore, Ltd (65) Melvin W. Wong, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist ChristianMentalHealth.com 220 Montgomery St., Suite 1098, San Francisco, CA 94104, U.S.A.

Homosexuality: Realities It occurs with people at the rate of 2% Like heterosexual attraction, the existing homosexual feeling is not a choice; whether to respond to it in behavior is a choice Homosexuals struggle with these feelings when young with fearfulness & ridicule They became activists for vindication: Anger

Homosexuality Myths 1.Homosexuality is “not a disease” 2.Homosexuality is “not preventable” 3.Homosexuality “cannot be treated” 4.All homosexuals “are happy” 5.Re-orientation therapy is “unethical”

Dr. Robert Spitzer’s Research APA: New Orleans, May 9, 2001 New York Times Dr. Spitzer led the task force that in 1973 removed homosexuality from the official list of mental disorders contained in the psychiatric association's diagnostic manual.

DSM-IV “Homosexuality is not a disease” 1973 APA Committee Action Political action 政治上的行動 Not a Clinical Decision Many Psychiatrists and Psychologists are in disagreement NARTH.com: National Association of Research and Therapy for Homosexuality

第三修訂版本

Is Homosexuality Preventable? Yes, It is preventable We need to have healthy marriages We need to have premarital counseling We need to educate husband-wife with effective Conflict Resolution Skills Early detection of Gender Insecurity

DSM-IV Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, Quote (page 536) By late adolescence or adulthood, about three-quarters of boys who had a childhood history of Gender Identity Disorder report a homosexual or bisexual orientation,

Homosexuality Is Preventable Gender Identity Disorder: GID Is a precursor-cause of adult “ homosexual or bisexual orientation,” Prevention of childhood GID Effective Parenting & School

Is Homosexuality Treatable? Yes, It is treatable but it is hard and takes a long time Needs great personal motivation It cannot be forced or imposed It is not for everyone, some accept it Marriage is not a measure of recovery

Dr. Robert Spitzer’s Research APA: New Orleans, May 9, 2001 New York Times But he said he decided that a study was needed after talking with protesters objecting to the association's policy discouraging such therapies.

Dr. Spitzer said. "It occurred to me that maybe the general consensus, which w ww was that the behavior can be resisted but sexual orientation couldn't be changed, was wrong,"

“Markedly” or “Extremely” Bothered by Depression 43% 47% 1% 4% 1% 4%

Sexual Attraction Scale Mean (100 = same sex, 0 = opposite sex)

Change effort was “Very Helpful” in… …feeling more [masculine, feminine] 87% …developing nonsexual relations with same sex 93%