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On August 5 the AmericanPsychological Association adopted aresolution stating that mental healthprofessionals should avoid tellingclients that they can change theirsexual orientation through therapy orother treatments.The “Resolution on Appropriate
Afrmative Responses to Sexual
Orientation Distress and ChangeEfforts” also advises that parents,guardians, young people andtheir families avoid sexualorientation treatments that portrayhomosexuality as a mental illness ordevelopmental disorder and insteadseek psychotherapy, social supportand educational services "that provideaccurate information on sexualorientation and sexuality, increasefamily and school support and reducerejection of sexual minority youth."The approval, by APA’s governingCouncil of Representatives, came atAPA’s annual convention, duringwhich a task force presented a report
that in part examined the efcacy of so-
called “reparative therapy,” or sexual
orientation change efforts (SOCE).
“Contrary to claims of sexualorientation change advocates and
practitioners, there is insufcient
evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to changesexual orientation,” said Judith M.Glassgold, PsyD, chair of the task
force. “Scientically rigorous older
studies in this area found that sexualorientation was unlikely to changedue to efforts designed for thispurpose. Contrary to the claims of
SOCE practitioners and advocates,
recent research studies do not provideevidence of sexual orientation changeas the research methods are inadequateto determine the effectiveness of theseinterventions.” Glassgold added: “Atmost, certain studies suggested thatsome individuals learned how toignore or not act on their homosexualattractions. Yet, these studies did notindicate for whom this was possible,
how long it lasted or its long-term
mental health effects. Also, this result
LETTER
VOLUME 20, ISSUE 8 • AUGUST 2009
See EX-GAY THERAPY HARM on page 10
17
th
Annual Louisville AIDS WalkBreaks Tradition, Moves To2
nd
Sunday of September
Psychologist’s Resolution Underscores Harm Posed By “Ex-Gay Therapy”
Since it began in 1993, the LouisvilleAIDS Walk has taken place on thelast Sunday of September. With
the growing number of fundraising
walks for various non-prot groups
in Kentuckiana and a plethora of community events taking place in
late September and early October, a
decision was made to move the walk
to the 2nd Sunday of September. Sothe 2009 Louisville AIDS Walk willtake place on Sunday, September 13.The Louisville AIDSWalk has a proud history
of heightening awareness
of HIV/AIDS concerns and
raising money to addressthe needs of those in ourcommunity infected and
affected by HIV/AIDS.
Thanks to the generosityof corporate sponsors andhard work of hundreds
of volunteers, 100% of theWalk’s proceeds are distributed tolocal AIDS organizations providing
critical services to people with HIV/
AIDS.For a schedule of this year’s walk-
related events and other information,including a downloadable pledgeform, visit www.louisvilleaidswalk.org. You may also donate to thewalk directly through the event’swebsite.
Kentuckiana Pride Shines WithSupport For 2009 AIDS Walk
The 2nd Annual Rock for the Ribbonevent sponsored by the Kentuckiana
Pride Festival (KPF) will be held onSaturday, September 12th. All protswill be donated to the Louisville AIDSWalk. The event billed as “dress to
impress” or “show your style” is acasual cocktail and dance event. Theevening will kick off with live pianomusic and transition to a DJ. Therewill be light hor d’ouevres and anopen bar. Doors open at 8:00pm with
the party ending at 11:00pm.
This year's Rock for the Ribbonwill be hosted at The Event Company,
1001 West Main Street, 2nd oor. This
site is handicap accessible with prior
notice being given to KPF by (502)649-4851.Gary and Cheryl Loeser, owners
of The Event Company, have a longhistory of being very supportive of KPF and have been incredible in their
continued support of the LouisvilleAIDS Walk since buying the company
in 2000. The Event Company's
founder, Ty Williams, who died of AIDS, was one of the founders of the Louisville AIDS Walk and their
annual service award bears his name.Tickets will be $20.00 in advanceand $25.00 at the door. They may be purchased from Pride Festivalmembers. For tickets and moreinformation write to volunteer@kentuckianapridefestival.com orcall the KPF phone numbered listedabove.For the second year, members of the Kentuckiana Pride Festival willroll up their sleeves and host the
concessions for the AIDS Walk onSunday, September 13th. Hot dogs,
hamburgers, chips and soft drinkswill be sold with all proceeds being
donated to the Walk. Concessionswill be open at 11:00am and willremain open until the Walk begins.
2 The LeTTer www.TheLeTTeronLine.com AUGUST 2009
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Coming out? Don’t face it alone!PFLAG is for more than just for parents,families and friends. We’re also here for you!
SUPPORT EDUCATION ADVOCACY
We meet the Third Sunday of the month at 3:00pm atFirst Lutheran Church, 417 East Broadway.Use the west entrance closest to the alley.
Questions? Leave a confdential message and
one of our members will return your call.
(502) 329-0229.
Bryan Gatewood Attorney
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy law.
www.johnsongatewood.com
Family Law
•
Estate Planning
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Debtor/Creditor
PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
231 South Fifth Street, Suite 200 Attorneys and Counselors at Law
502.584.3300
AUGUST 2009 www.TheLeTTeronLine.com The LeTTer 3
Top Israeli ofcials, including the
prime minister and the president,have strongly condemned the August
1 attack at a gay and lesbian center in
Tel Aviv, where a gunman shot and
killed two people and wounded 15
others.
As of press time, the gunman ed
the scene and hasn’t been caught
or identied. An Israeli police
spokesman said the shooting appearsto be a criminal attack, rather than a
terrorist act related to the Arab-Israeliconict. The two people who diedwere Nir Katz, 26 and Liz Trubeshi,17.Said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, "I would like to stronglycondemn the shocking murders that
were perpetrated… in Tel Aviv…We
will bring him to justice and treathim with the utmost severity of thelaw. I would also like to send mycondolences to the families of thevictims and my wishes for a quick recovery to the injured…I would liketo take this opportunity to say to all of
Israel's citizens: We are a democratic
country, a country of tolerance, a
law-abiding state, and we will honor
every person regardless of his or her beliefs.”
Israeli President Shimon Peres also
spoke out strongly against the attack:“The shocking murder in Tel Avivlast night is the kind of murder thatan enlightened and cultured peoplecannot accept.”In general, Israel has adopted aprogressive stance on gay rights andhas passed legislation to protect thoserights. Gay marriages, performed
outside Israel, are recognized bythe state, and same-sex couples are
permitted to adopt. In addition, gaysserve openly in the military. Thegay community has gained wideacceptance throughout Israeli society,including in the political, legal,military and cultural realms, and thecity of Tel Aviv has one of the most
ourishing gay and gay-friendly
communities in the world.
Israeli Ofcials Condemn Shooting atTel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Center
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