Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
OMEDYASHAR here.
This is my response to the 'Journey Into Manhood' segment that aired on NBC News
in early November.
I attended 'Journey Into Manhood.'
And this is my response to the comments of Dr. Drescher
in the NBC News segment and people who hold similar opinions.
Dr. Drescher said, "The American Psychiatric Association position since 1973,
almost 40 years now, is that homosexuality's not a mental disorder.
It is not something that requires psychological treatment.
Perhaps psychological treatment is not required for people who embrace a homosexual lifestyle,
but many individuals who experience these feelings
sincerely do not want to have these feelings, NOT because of social pressure,
but because homosexuality is not in harmony with other deeply rooted desires
and personal dreams that they have.
That homosexuality may not be a mental disorder for those who embrace it
is no reason to ignore and disrespect
the will of those individuals who of their own free will
desire to develop heterosexual feelings of attractions.
"Many people report that they feel depressed, suicidal, anxious, and hopeless.
Those are not uncommon responses."
Many people? Who are these 'many people?'
In what study?
No one ever came to me or to the many people that I know who attended JiM, Journey Into
Manhood. People who till this day consider it one of
the greatest most meaningful experiences of their lives.
The narrator on this section of the segment stated,
"Doctors like Jack Drescher say change therapy is not legitimate from a clinical standpoint,
and warn that it can be harmful."
You know what? For me, and for anyone like me, it's worth it. Tell me it's dangerous
and I'll run to any program like this, anyway, just as I jumped on such an opportunity to
join the program over a year ago. You politically motivated deniers of reality! Of my own personal
knowledge of what goes on in my head, and in my heart, and in my body!
Those psychologists who do submit to the APA will only continue to disrespect and DISCRIMINATE
against me and other people like me by refusing to offer us any therapy as to how we can live
our lives the way WE want to live them.
REQUIRING us to either engage in *** sex with men or else go without professional therapy
altogether. You baselessly accuse ex-gay programs as being dangerous? How about forcing individuals
such as myself to live in denial of our deeply seated principles and aspirations by trying
to force us into the "gay lifestyle" ...and despite that the "gay lifestyle" is unacceptable
to us, you refuse to provide us any other methods of therapy - it's either be gay or
go without therapy. This kind of "therapy" is not only potentially dangerous, but extremely
irresponsible. By the way, Journey Into Manhood does not teach that it's their way or the
highway. They and many organizations like them make it abundantly clear to their participants
that for people who are happy being gay or who do not want to change their sexuality,
that there are gay affirmative therapies available. They also make it clear that each participant
in their program must be there as a result of his own choice, and not because he was
pressured or coerced. Indeed, if an individual really doesn't want to change, or isn't sure
if he wants to change his sexuality, or only wants to change it because of some sort of
pressure, then such a program could very likely make him feel sad or depressed. But these
programs are clear that they are not intended for such people! If such persons as these
attend these programs, any depression or duress that results is his own liability, not the
program's liability.
So you want to deny the scientific REALITY that these programs work? You want to ignore
my firsthand knowledge of how my own *** feelings have changed - long term?
FINE! But that means it's time liberal scientists start researching into how one CAN change
his *** orientation, if that's what the individual wants, just as they researched
into how a biological male can have a 'sex change,' despite all the psychological risks
involved. Interesting, when it's politically-correct, it's okay that it's dangerous. It's time for
the APA to get consistent, that is - if they really are into honest science and respecting
individuality, more than they are into allowing political
propaganda and personal beliefs and feelings influence their 'research.'
Stop ignoring the reality that people like me exist, and people exist who want to change
who haven't yet experienced changed. Oh you so respectful and 'openminded' individuals.
Instead of just belittling them, how about offering a less dangerous method so that they
can live their lives the way they want, instead of trying to force them to live their lives
the way you want. Aren't you against enforcing one's beliefs
on others?
If the APA really cared about people like me, then instead of biasly bashing the sole
organizations that offer hope to people as myself, the APA would at least research into
less dangerous ways, according to their opinion, of how individuals such as myself can live
their lives the way that they want, with a wife, and children.