Category Archives: Science

Voice of the Voiceless Offers Time Magazine SOCE Aid

TO: Time Magazine

FROM: Voice of the Voiceless, Ex-gay Truth

SUBJECT: Opinion article, ‘My Hellish Youth in Gay Conversion Therapy and How I Got Out’, July 15th 2014 by James Guay

Upon our review, Time has touted an unqualified, unsubstantiated, unbalanced and biased opinion piece intended to undermine the mental health of same-sex attracted (SSA) patients and their therapists to favor a political agenda by intentionally implying that Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE) are completely ineffective and harmful. By the American Psychological Association’s own standards, this propagandist claim remains scientifically unproven, relying solely on scant claims by a few individuals[1]. Such claims run in complete contradiction of subject matter experts.[2]

Time Magazine undermines its journalistic credibility in editorially publishing unsubstantiated and biased claims. Firstly, Mr. Guay claims to have been treated by two psychological professionals who are never named and therefore not substantiated. Time intentionally allowed these allegations to go unchecked and unchallenged. Secondly, Time intentionally permits the notion that any Behavioral Cognitive Therapy must be 100% successful to be scientifically valid, which is not true of any standardized and scientifically accepted treatment (CBT = therapy success rate):

Disorder Author (year) Number of Studies CBT
Boderline PersonalityDisorder Ipser et al. (2009) 2 82%

Panic disorder                              Siev et al. (2008)                                5                           77%
Anger/Aggression                        Del Vecchio & O’Leary (2004)     23                     66–69%
Depression                                     Leichsenring (2001)                          6                      51–87%
Childhood Anxiety                        James et al. (2005)                         13 56%
Chronic Fatigue                            Malouff et al. (2008)                         5                           50%
Personality Disorders            Leichsenring & Leibing (2003)        25                         47%

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Hunot et al. (2007) 8 46%

Chronic Fatigue                                Price et al. (2008)                          6                           40%
Bulimia Nervosa                        Thompson-Brenner (2003)            26                      40–44%
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder     Eddy et al. (2004)                       3                       38–50%

(‘The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses’ Table 1 – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3584580/table/T1/ Stefan G. Hofmann, Ph.D., Anu Asnaani, M.A., Imke J.J. Vonk, M.A., Alice T. Sawyer, M.A., and Angela Fang, M.A.)

Thirdly, the most important component of successful behavior change is a true desire for change which appears highly suspect in Mr. Guay’s case. One who seeks relief from unwanted anxiety issues does not turn around and campaign in favor of anxiety when they fail to successfully address those feelings as Mr. Guay is doing with his failed SOCE efforts. This is acutely highlighted in Mr. Guay’s own patient testimonies, which bizarrely fail to cite one single patient success but instead focus on either their personal “friendship” with Mr. Guay or their support of his LBGT efforts, or both, though we are greatly pleased that Heather Dawn found having Mr. Guay in her yoga class a pleasant experience:

(*Source – James Guay’s, “Living More Fully” Patient Testimonials (http://livingmorefully.com/testimonials/))

Susanne Johnson, LPC
“I have known James for a long time. He has a great deal of compassion for others and is able to connect on a deep level with those he works with. James has been brilliantly instrumental at influencing change in his community. He goes beyond the limits of his office to support the change needed to make life better for his clients and everyone else. He is the real thing; a natural. I would, without question, refer clients to him.”

Markus Dobler, LMFT
“I have known James as a professional colleague for many years. His role and tremendous engagement in many of the modern day civil right struggles for the LGBTQI community have always impressed me tremendously. With absolute dedication and fierce selflessness he worked very hard (and continues to work hard) to push for long overdue changes that ultimately improve the lives of the community. His contributions in the fight against SOCE (sexual orientation change efforts – also more colloquially known as reparative therapy) have not only improved the lives of many young LGBTQI kids; they may now very well save their lives. Marriage equality was also an issue that James fought for with absolute dedication and conviction. The community – and, of course, James’ private practice clients – can consider themselves to be very fortunate to have such a principled fighter for the just causes that he has tackled. It is without any reservation that I would recommend James Guay to any potential client. The sensibilities and dedication that James has shown in his public struggles and fights will doubtless be equally present in the therapeutic work he does.”

Domenic Ali, DPAli, PhD, MSW
“I’ve known james for some time and I find him one of the most compassionate people i’ve ever met. He cares deeply about others and their right to exist as individuals while also supporting their wishes to find ways to contribute to the world. Psychotherapy is a perfect profession for him and I’m so glad he has been successful. As a retired therapist myself, I would not hesitate in referring clients to him.”

Christian Schizzel
“I had the honor of working with James Guay in the recent past. His sincerity and compassion are phenomenal tools which greatly influenced my ability to overcome difficult circumstances. I am a better person for having had the pleasure of connecting with him and hold him in high regards, especially as I see him reach out to assist those n his community. He is a phenomenal gentleman!”

Heather Dawn, Yoga Instructor
“James Guay is a compassionate, patient, insightful and authentic person. He is completely checked in to his own self care and the caring of others, which is imperative for any good healer, like James. He is passionate about both traditional and alternative therapies as it pertains to health and well-being, enhancing his already open heart and mind. I have had the pleasure of having James in my yoga class, as well as in depth discussions with him about life. If ever you need someone to listen to you…perhaps give you a different perspective on your life..or just a little compassionate resonance, James is your guy.”

Chris Hyde
“James is beautiful person who exudes care, understanding, compassion, and empathy. His experience and wisdom provide him much to share with his clients. I highly recommend him as someone to go to for compassionate care and healing on your journey!”

Michael Bussee, Retired LMFT
“A man of integrity and sensitivity. I would recommend him to anyone in need of competent, caring and professional help.”

Jarrett Baker-Wilkinson
“I am always psychologicaly inspired by the posts from James@LivingMoreFully. Working with James Guay, LMFT, can help anyone discover their most authentic self.”

Marianne Gentile Comstock
“I have known James for quite a few years and he is always as he seems – caring, empathetic and generous with his time and his wisdom. He is a fearless fighter for civil equality. His energy is amazing and he has an innate ability to connect emotionally and spiritually with those he serves. If we are to ever reach true, complete equality for all in our nation, it will happen because of professionals like James.”

Jerry Reiter
“James Guay is a very intelligent and sensitive counselor. He is a great listener and a very wise man. I like the way he makes you feel safe sharing anything on your mind.”

In response, Voice of the Voiceless offers Time Magazine the opportunity of professional, experienced and scientifically factual commentary on the subject of SOCE to ensure your journalistic integrity and balance rather than trumpeting a few cherry picked stories of failure which give a false and easily disprovable innuendo.

[1] “Although sound data on the safety of SOCE are extremely limited, some individuals reported being harmed by SOCE.” ‘Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts’ http://www.apa.org/about/policy/sexual-orientation.aspx
[2] “The authors of the most methodologically rigorous study ever conducted on persons seeking to change from a homosexual orientation looked for evidence of harm using standardized measures of “psychological dis-tress,”21 “spiritual well-being,”22 and “faith maturity.”23 They concluded, “We found no empirical evidence in this study to support the claim that the attempt to change sexual orientation is harmful.”24 Joseph Nicolosi, A. Dean Byrd, Richard W. Potts, “Retrospective self-reports of changes in homosexual orientation: A consumer survey of conversion therapy clients,” Psychological Reports 86, pp. 1071-88; cited in Phelan, et al., p. 42.

Psychiatrists Oppose Illinois SSA Therapy Ban

Caring Clinicians

P.O. Box 5517

Glendale, AZ 85312

March 23, 2014

Dear Committee Member:

May we respectfully suggest that the efforts of some to ban SOCE therapy in Illinois are:

An unfounded overreach without support in scientific research. (Even the APA’s task force made up of gay activists and gay affirming professionals – without one professional who actually does SOCE(!), said there wasn’t enough research to say whether it was harmful or beneficial)

Based on the false notion that same sex attraction or homosexuality is innate. The multiple large identical twin studies show that this is clearly false. For example the 2008 Santilla et al study involving thousands of identical twins found, that if one of a twin pair was gay the other was gay only 10% of the time, and if one was lesbian the other was only 14% of the time.

Even the APA no longer supports this false notion that homosexuality is innate, and suggests the causes are mixture of environmental and genetic influences. Dr. Francis Collins MD, PH.D., the former head of the human genome project, and a very caring individual of gays on a personal level, says it is “not hardwired”. We know of no credible scientific source that still holds to the false notion that homosexuality is hardwired or innate.

While we respect the rights of those who want to live a gay or lesbian lifestyle, we would strongly affirm that it is only fair and reasonable that those who want to live a heterosexual lifestyle also be given the rights and freedom to do so.

There has been research available for decades which clearly shows, that change is possible for those who want to change their sexual orientation. For example in February 1984, in The American Journal of Psychiatry, Master and Schwartz, from the then world famous Master and Johnson Institute, were able to change a large majority of those who sought change. They had only a 20% failure rate (or 80% success rate) in their efforts to change patients from a homosexual orientation to a heterosexual lifestyle. Five years later their failure rate was still only 28% or a 72% success rate. More recently Jones and Yarhouse in 2007 found success rates for those wanting help to change their same sex attraction similar to those for antidepressant treatment of depression in the STAR*D study.

Those who are wrongly forced to live with unwanted same sex attraction will unfortunately face the same documented medical and psychological problems faced by those in the gay lifestyle which include:

-Increased rates of depression, drug abuse, suicidal ideation and behavior

– Tremendously increased rates of HIV infection and AIDS

– Increased rates of Hepatitis B and C

– Increased rates of anal and colon cancer

If the goal is to get rid of aversion therapies in the treatment of minors why limit it just to SOCE? Why not ban it as a therapy regardless of the treatment goal, and if the goal is truly to protect the health of minors, then banning SOCE therapy is a huge step in the wrong direction and will clearly lead to extreme harm and even death in some if not many minors over the years.

For those who are willing to be open minded and intellectually honest we recommend viewing the 32 minute documentary “Understanding Same-sex Attraction”.

Please feel free to share this information with colleagues, as some will not have received it or may have had their screeners set it aside.

Respectfully,
John H. Raney, M.D., ABPN
Anthony Duk, M.D. ABPN

SPLC Sued For Extremism, FBI Dumps Them as Resource

A cunning strategist demonstrates his skill against his appointed adversary by undermining his enemy while advancing his own position in the same move. And what more cruel, envious, cowardly and deceptive tactic to get ahead in the game than by psychological warfare to convince an adversary that his success is a total impossibility while advancing your own position ?

In 2002, former homosexual Richard Weller writes in ‘Confessions of a Former Homosexual’,

“I was 100% gay, now I am 100% recovered…..the media “spin” on homosexuality makes me feel that I can’t stay silent anymore! Like many young gays, I tried to commit suicide because I didn’t think there was a way out. “[1]

Fortunately, Richard did find a way out and is alive today to tell of it. Like untold numbers of former homosexuals who wished to live in compliance with the natural and written laws of their faith, to avoid the devastating medical consequences of the behavior, or to simply lead a normal, fruitful life. If ever there was a truly fundamental right, it is the right to self-determination.

Unfortunately, for those seeking change there are also those who would deny them that right to their own self-determination. Whether motivated by their shame in a failure to change, a lack of desire to change, negative experiences in attempting to change or for purely political purposes, the homosexual lobby itself leads the charge in denying the right to self-determination in order to advance their own ideology hoping for politically protected legal status based on unproven claims of a physiological basis for homosexuality which would justify such protections. Even as the American Psychological Association recently updated its official statement based on cumulative research to admit,

“There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors.” ~ American Psychological Association [2]

As the APA faces heated criticism from within and without concerning its methods, in particular its inclusion, exclusion and classification of disorders in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which now excludes homosexuality, including from experts such as Dr. Allen Frances, professor emeritus at Duke University, former chairman of the DSM-IV task force, who stated clinical trials “have been a pure disaster from start to finish.” He called the trials a “fiasco” and accuses the American Psychiatric Association of having “lost its competence and credibility.”[3]

Others like former American Psychological Association President Dr. Nicholas Cummings attest to the fact that,

“I know of ‘hundreds’ of homosexuals who changed their orientation” [4]

and untold numbers of former homosexuals stepping forward to testify to their life’s experience, the homosexual lobby continues to bully and intimidate anyone attempting change.

To actualize their political goals, the homosexual lobby has employed the dubious services of the far left wing Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to punitively pursue and harass sexual change therapy groups through legal action. In “Michael Ferguson et al v. JONAH et al”, currently making its way through the New Jersey court system, the SPLC charges Jewish sexual orientation change organization JONAH with fraudulent practices because client Michael Ferguson and three compatriots failed to experience change in their sexual orientation, even though no such guarantees are offered by JONAH or any legitimate change therapy practitioner, and accusing them of bizarre therapy practices unheard of in the modern sexual orientation change community. Like any psychological counseling, patient progress varies individually and is largely determined by one’s own commitment to change. One plaintiff in the case only attended five sessions before quitting while another had a record of speaking glowingly about his JONAH treatment before being recruited by the SPLC as a potential benefactor to the lawsuit. Involvement with the homosexual behavior lobby has embarrassed and strained the reputation of the once honorable SPLC noted for its defense of racial minorities in past decades. In what can only be described as a desperate bid to maintain relevance in a racially modern America, the SPLC has mired itself in the defense of the medically unhealthy[5], and often fluid and unwanted condition of homosexuality.

While political activism in California and New Jersey managed to implement bans on therapists offering treatment for unwanted same-sex attraction, reviews of the science and testimonies in Washington, Virginia and Maryland have resulted rejection of bans on providing therapy to those who desire it. New Jersey’s ban drew particular attention when the lobby’s primary witness was investigated and discovered to have lied about attending therapy, the existence of the supposed therapist and harsh treatment techniques under the non-existent therapist. Both legitimate therapists and the Ohio Secretary of State, where the treatment was to have been provided, verified that no such therapy or therapist exists.[6] Meanwhile, the SPLC’s reputation continues to suffer the deeper it wades into the mire the homosexual lobby’s deception has created by naming any organization offering sexual orientation therapy or any organization maintaining Christian ethics towards homosexual behavior as “hate groups”. As a result of their unscientific and blind leftist ideological attacks, officials in two states have called for investigations into SPLC activities and methods. In Hawaii, officials have filed an ethics complaint and accused the SPLC of bribing teachers with $250 payments to adopt SPLC lessons attacking Christians and conservative groups into their lesson plans.[7][8] At the same time, legislators in Virginia have taken the SPLC to court over their smearing of conservative and religious groups via their “hate group” label due to their pro-family and pro-marriage positions. The court has subpoenaed “all written criteria, guidelines, bylaws or rules used by Southern Poverty Law Center to designate organizations or groups as ‘hate groups’ from the inception of the Southern Poverty Law Center to the present date.”[9]

Probably most damaging and embarrassing for the SPLC was the recent peer-reviewed study by North Texas University identifying the SPLC as being little more than left wing hacks by displaying the bigotry and “hate” which they are accusing Christian and pro-family groups of participating in.[10] As our scientific understanding of homosexuality advances and an increasing number of ex-gays and successful sexual orientation change therapists come to public awareness, the SPLC seems to have made an odd choice in choosing the oppressing side.

These activities may have played a role in the unceremonious dumping of the SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League as resources by the FBI who did so without comment, a devastating blow to their validity and significance. The SPLC’s antagonism was largely blamed for a targeted shooting spree at the Family Research Council headquarters by a homosexualist supporter in August of 2012.[11]

As for those choosing to change their lives, including their sexual orientation, it remains their choice alone.

John Ozanich is a Advisory Board member of Voice of the Voiceless and a former United States Marine Corps Anti-Terrorism Strike Team member with a seminary doctorate in Biblical Egyptology. John authors articles on religious history, constitutional issues, science, and religion.He has been awarded the IBM Authorship Award. He is a licensed and ordained minister with the United New Testament Church and an award winning professional computer network design architect and I/T project manager who has worked for a variety of Fortune 500 companies.

[1] Confessions of a Former Homosexual
By Richard Weller
March 28, 2002

http://www.newswithviews.com/psychology/psychology2.htm
[2] American Psychological Association
‘A Better Understanding Of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality’

Click to access sorientation.pdf

[3] “Dr. Allen Frances, professor emeritus at Duke University, who was actually the chairman of the DSM-IV task force, asserts in a recent blog published that the clinical trials that supposedly determined whether the new DSM V is a good and accurate guide “have been a pure disaster from start to finish.” He calls the trials a “fiasco” and accuses the American Psychiatric Association of having “lost its competence and credibility.”
November 07, 2012
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/05/leading-psychiatrists-question-psychiatry-diagnostic-manual/
[4] Certification of Dr. Nicholas Cummings, Ph.D., Sc.D.
Superior Court of New Jersey
Michael Ferguson et al v. JONAH et al, May 3^rd, 2013
http://www.consciencedefense.org/contents/media/Nicholas_Cummings_Declaration.pdf
[5] American Medical Association
‘Understand Important GLBT Health Issues’
http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/glbt-advisory-committee/glbt-resources/understand-lgbt-issues.page
[6] Witness Lies about “Conversion Therapy”
PolitickerNJ, April 1^st, 2013
http://www.politickernj.com/64358/witness-lies-about-conversion-therapy
[7] ‘Legislator Accuses SPLC of Bribing Teachers to Teach Anti-Christian Curriculum’
14 March 2014
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/03/12/Leftist-Group-Teaches-Five-Year-Olds-about-Gay-Penquins
[8] KBGM CBS, Hawaii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enbu5SgLYw8&hd=1
[9] Southern Poverty Law Center’s Criteria for Naming ‘Hate Groups’ Subpoenaed
March 7^th, 2014
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/southern-poverty-law-centers-criteria-naming-hate-groups
[10] ‘Watching the Watchers: The Neglect of Academic Analysis of Progressive Groups
North Texas University, 2014
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/167498973/Academic%20Defense%20of%20FRC
[11] The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has labeled several Washington, D.C.-based family organizations as “hate groups” for favoring traditional marriage, has been dumped as a “resource” on the FBI‘s Hate Crime Web page, a significant rejection of the influential legal group.
MARCH 26, 2014
http://washingtonexaminer.com/shocker-fbi-dumps-southern-poverty-law-center-as-hate-crime-watchdog-partner/article/2546305

Unreleased Xq28 Gene Study Repeats Unproven Theory

New Genetic Study Repeats Old Unproven Theory

We want to jump on this new junk science article right away because we’ve been down the Xq28 road before and this unreleased study managed to suspiciously get a Valentine’s Day news release without peer review. We’ve excerpted and highlighted the laughable holes for you. The attempt to pass this off as anything new or valid in a Valentine’s Day news release is insipid politics. According to The Guardian:

“A region of the X chromosome called Xq28 had some impact on men’s sexual behaviour – though scientists have no idea which of the many genes in the region are involved, nor how many lie elsewhere in the genome. Another stretch of DNA on chromosome 8 also played a role in male sexual orientation – though again the precise mechanism is unclear.”

Researchers have “speculated” in the past that genes linked to homosexuality in men “may” have survived evolution because they happened to make women who carried them more fertile. This “may” be the case for genes in the Xq28 region, as the X chromosome is passed down to men exclusively from their mothers.

“The work has yet to be published…”

…the authors found that [only] 33 out of 40 gay brothers inherited similar genetic markers…

The gene or genes in the Xq28 region that influence sexual orientation have a limited and variable impact. Not all of the gay men in Bailey’s study inherited the same Xq28 region. The genes were neither sufficient, nor necessary, to make any of the men gay.

The flawed thinking behind a genetic test for sexual orientation is clear from studies of twins, which show that the identical twin of a gay man, who carries an exact replica of his brother’s DNA, is more likely to be heterosexual than homosexual. That means even a perfect genetic test that picked up every gene linked to sexual orientation would still be less effective than flipping a coin.

However, the authors do not know where these genetic factors are located in the genome, nor do they address homosexuality in women:

“We found evidence for two sets [of genes] that affect whether a man is gay or straight. But it is not completely determinative; there are certainly other environmental factors involved.”

I guess, women must simply be of some other species or don’t have genes.

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