from Gay Activism in the Social Sciences
April 23, 2008 - The Journal Of Counseling And Development (Vol. 86; Issue 1; 2008) has published an article describing "multicultural competence" tests that can be used to detect negative attitudes in counselor trainees toward homosexuality.
In "Assessing Multicultural Competence In Counselor Trainees: A Review Of Instrumentation And Future Directions," author Danica Hays writes: "Given the historical and current experiences of oppression for women, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals and religious minority groups, these groups need to be included in the conceptualization, application, and assessment of MCC [multicultural counselor competencies] so that counselors may better serve several disenfranchised groups."
Two of the most recent tools devised are the Quick Discrimination Index, which analyses attitudes toward racial diversity and gender equity; and Counseling Women Competencies Scale (CWCS), which assesses an individual's awareness, knowledge, and skills for working with diverse female clients.
Hays notes: "...the focus of MCC over the past two decades has refocused the scope of professional practice toward social-justice issues and prejudice prevention. Lee and Walz urged that counselors should be social advocates, given that social change is necessary for optimal psychosocial health of both counselors and clients. ... Given this new direction toward social justice/social advocacy, counselors and counselor trainees should be held responsible for understanding how privilege and oppression issues influence counseling process and outcome."
NARTH's past president Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D., commented:
If homosexuality is to be considered a 'culture' that counselors must be sensitive to, then yet another 'culture' must be acknowledged on an equal level: counselees (especially those who are homosexual themselves) who believe that humanity was designed for heterosexuality. Social justice and respect for diversity require nothing less.
Danica Hays is also a co-author of "Self-Defined Empowerment for Gay and Lesbian Parents: A Qualitative Examination."