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from Events/Announcements
Letter To APA President
Gerald P. Koocher, Ph.D.
On NARTH Petition
June 19, 2006
Gerald P. Koocher, Ph.D.
American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
Dear Dr. Koocher,
The attached petition, with a significant number of signatures of APA member psychologists from throughout this country, is self-explanatory. Among the signers of this petition are former presidents of the American Psychological Association, former presidents of state psychological associations, as well as, APA member psychologists who have distinguished themselves in both professional and academic psychology.
The petitioners are supportive of NARTH's concerns about APA's historical and current disregard for client autonomy, self-determination and diversity in matters of sexual adaptation. Specifically, these petitioners are supportive of an individual's right to claim a homosexual identity or pursue change in sexual adaptation in accordance with the ethical principles of APA and consistent with an individual's expressed value system. APA's neglect of this latter population, those individuals who wish to explore a course of change in their sexual adaptation, is, as one former APA president declared, nothing short of "shameful."
NARTH seeks to protect the rights of both psychologists and their patients to seek and receive ethical, professional care where client autonomy, self-determination and diversity remain the cornerstones of the treatment process.
It is NARTH's view that APA must make room for psychologists and clients of diverse worldviews, particularly in regard to issues of human sexuality. Destructive Trends in Mental Health by APA icons, Cummings and Wright, reflects our concern that activism is too often masqueraded as science in APA.
- To discuss NARTH's concerns about these matters, we are requesting a meeting with you and selected members of APA governance (we hope that Norman Anderson and Stephen Behnke would be included) during the APA Convention in August. Please provide us with a time on Friday or Saturday when you and members of APA governance can meet with us.
- We are requesting that we receive a response from you regarding the meeting time within seven to ten days.
Sincerely,
Joseph Nicolosi, Ph. D., President NARTH
A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D., MBA, MPH, Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, NARTH
Updated: 8 February 2008
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