Source: Collected Papers from the NARTH Annual Conference, Saturday, 29 July 1995.
Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D. is the author of Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality and Healing Homosexuality: Case Stories of Reparative Therapy. A general practitioner for 15 years and founder of the Thomas Aquinas Clinic, he is one of the three founding members of NARTH and currently serves as its Secretary/Treasurer and Narth Bulletin editor. He is an international speaker on the subject of homosexuality, and has authored numerous articles and made radio and television appearances to provide an alternate view of homosexuality.
Once again, NARTH is pleased to present the Collected Papers from our annual conference.
But did you know--if the American Psychological Association had a say in the matter, there might not have been a 1995 NARTH Conference?
The A.P.A. did not approve of our gathering of eighty professionals, students, concerned parents of gays, and ex-gays who gathered to share their beliefs and experiences.
In fact, the official journal of the American Psychological Association, the A.P.A. Monitor, refused to announce our meeting--a courtesy they routinely extend to pro-gay and lesbian gatherings.
When we inquired about placing an announcement, the A.P.A.'s Associate Executive Director of Public Communication responded as follows:
"It was our consensus that because NARTH's position on homosexuality is in direct conflict with APA's position on the issue, and is also in conflict with current research findings on sexual orientation, we will not publish any NARTH announcements in the Monitor."
The head of NARTH's Committee on Academic Intimidation, Dr. Paul Denhalter, responded in a letter to the A.P.A.:
"We were very disappointed with A.P.A.'s response and would ask--on the basis of what research does A.P.A. take a stand?
"It seems that to deny a call for papers by NARTH helps to work against the needs of many clients who desire to control unwanted homosexual desires and work toward heterosexual responsiveness. At the same time, such a denial serves to reinforce the limited notion that there is only one appropriate response to clients who present these types of concerns, and to deny a client's right of self-determination.
"By denying legitimate but controversial groups assistance in advertising their meetings, the APA appears to be attempting to stop free and open discussion of these issues. A healthy organization has no need to silence the scholarly dialogue of its members. On the contrary, open discussion seems essential to its viability. I would ask that A.P.A. reconsider its position and allow NARTH to post a call for papers, and demonstrate thereby that A.P.A. supports all substantive and scholarly analysis."
Although the A.P.A. never responded to Dr. Denhalter's challenge, NARTH continues to grow and flourish because it meets a very important need for the sharing of accurate information. To date, we remain the only professional organization countering the gay movement's misinformation. At this writing near the end of 1995, we count over 500 members. With or without the sanction of the American Psychological Association, NARTH will continue growing.
We hope you enjoy reading the twelve presentations reprinted in this 1995 issue of the Collected Papers.