Linking "ex-gay" therapy and Prop 8

Since the federal trial of Proposition 8 is not be televised or released on YouTube, I am dependent on newspapers and online media outlets to fill me on what is going on in the courtroom. The Los Angeles Times released an article discussing Wednesday's (Jan 20th) events, including a testimony from an "ex-gay" survivor and a highlight of the role of religion in the Prop. 8 campaign.

The article did not, however, make the link I would have liked to seen between "ex-gay" therapy and issues of religious-sanctioned discrimination, as seen in the Prop. 8 campaign. I would like to make these comparisons based on my experiences as an "ex-gay" survivor and an individual with a history (and present) of experiencing religious-sanctioned discrimination.


Throughout the campaign for Proposition 8, I continually heard supporters for the marriage ban express that they could not support same-sex marriage because they believe that homosexuality is sinful based on their theological interpretations. This is not a discussion about theology, because the Bible says a lot of things about multiple areas of concern (i.e., women, slavery, etc.). Regardless of anyones Biblical understandings of homosexuality, there are gay folk in the world, whether they like it or not.

The problem is, though, they don't like it. That leads to various forms of discrimination, some violent, some not, but still discriminatory no less; including taking shape through constitutional legislation that inhibits same-sex couples from getting married. What Proposition 8 says is, "Too bad you're gay, maybe if you weren't gay, you could have the same rights as everyone else."

For some reason, there are many people that supported Proposition 8 that think lesbian and gay couples can do something about the fact that they have same-sex attractions; as if they can change who they are as a person. Prop. 8 suggests to lesbian and gay couples that should just become heterosexual and marry someone of the opposite sex if they want to get married. However, there is no way change a person's sexual orientation.

Therapies and treatments that propose to alter a persons sexual orientation (also known as "ex-gay" therapy, reparative therapy, and conversion therapy) have a strong likelihood to do more harm than good to a person. The effects of reparative therapy can be very damaging on the life of any person that attempts to change who they are as person, damages can, and many times are, psychological, physical, social, spiritual; and in tragic cases, conversion therapy can also lead to death.

In 2009, the American Psychological Association declared that it is virtually impossible to change a persons sexual orientation, and that efforts to produce change do more harm than good; inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

Final Thoughts: There is nothing lesbian and gay couples can do about their sexual orientation to change it. The nature of their relationships are the same as any heterosexual couple. To ban marriage to a couple on the basis of who they are and to attempt support that ban with Biblical interpretation is an example of religious-sanctioned discrimination. Proposition 8 perpetuates misunderstandings that people have in regards to how sexual orientation works and it allows for social ignorance to prevail.