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from Parenting & Family
National Mental Health Association Publishes Parents Guide On Sexual Orientation/Prejudice
November 9, 2004 -
The Alexandria, Virginia-based National Mental Health Association (NMHA) has
recently published, "What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk with Kids about Sexual
Orientation and Prejudice" for parents. The brochure was written by Dr. Lynn
Ponton.
Dr. Ponton provides talking points for parents to use in introducing the topic
of homosexuality to pre-school children, school-age children, as well as
teenagers. She urges parents to bring up the topic of homosexuality even before
the child brings it up. She says that there is no need to talk about sex
relationships when talking about sexual orientation because "Only part of being
gay or lesbian is about a sexual relationship. It's more important that children
understand that an intimate, loving relationship is sometimes shared between two
men or two women in the same way."
Dr. Ponton urges parents of questioning teenagers to use resources provided by
the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as well as Parents and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
In her Q&A section, Ponton states: "Most researchers believe sexual orientation
is complex, and that biology plays an important role. This means that many
people are born with their sexual orientation, or that it's established at an
early age."
In discussing "cures" for homosexuality, she says: "No research has shown that
'reparative therapy' (psychotherapy to eliminate individuals' sexual desires for
their own sex) or 'transformational ministry,' (the use of religion to eliminate
those desires), is successful. In fact, every mainstream mental healthy and
medical organization says these methods may be harmful."
In responding to the question: "Is homosexuality unhealthy?" Dr. Ponton notes:
"All sexual behaviors have health risks, and it's important for teens to know
this. But being gay does not make someone unhealthy or unhappy. What is
unhealthy is prejudice against gays or lesbians."
Updated: 8 February 2008
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