Health Ministry warns against conversion therapy for homosexuals
Also known as reparative therapy, the “treatment is advocated by some Christian and Orthodox Jewish groups that oppose homosexuality
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHGay flag(photo credit: INGIMAGE / ASAP)
Practitioners of conversation therapy to attempt to turn homosexuals into heterosexuals “create false impressions of scientific recognition of the technique even though there is no scientific evidence that it is at all successful. It may also cause harm to the individual,” the Health Ministry said on Sunday.Also known as reparative therapy, the “treatment is advocated by some Christian and Orthodox Jewish groups that oppose homosexual behavior and call it sinful or a mental disorder that must be cured. Treatments that aim to change sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual have long been criticized for being pseudo-scientific.Three years ago, the Israel Psychological Association condemned the practice and urged practitioners to stop using the technique, which includes prayer, psychoanalysis and visualization.The ministry now issued a position paper of the Israel Psychologists Council warning against conversation therapy.“These are not worthy ethically or professionally,” the professional groups stated.Health Minister Yael German (Yesh Atid) had asked the groups for their opinion of the technique. The association was the first to oppose it, and the council adopted this position.“This is another proof that sexual orientation is, by its nature, not possible to change and does not need to be changed. Sexual orientation is part of a person’s identify and does not need treatment or conversion, German, long an advocate of homosexual, lesbian and transgender rights, said.
