Even though it is possible to live a happy life also as a homosexual, many seek to get rid of their inclinations. This seems largely to be due to social and religious pressures. But also the longing for own children and a happy, married life are powerful motivating factors for gays who want to change. For conservative, religious groups the question of “curing” homosexuality is a question of spiritual care, and even salvation for their gay brethren.

As the investigation indicates that homosexuality seems to be a natural occurring variation in the human race, the question arises if it is possible to change people’s sexual orientation.

WEB RESOURCES

• The Times reports on the discussion around hormone experiments that may change the sexual orientation of sheep.

• Free Republic brings this very personal letter from a man that claims to have had his homosexual inclination removed by God.

• A similar personal story at DesertStream.org tells about a homosexual man’s healing through Jesus.

• The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuals describes thoroughly the steps in their therapeutic treatment of homosexuality in this article.

• Wikipedia has this article on Reparative Therapy, also listing the main supporters and opponents of the treatment.

• The therapeutic treatment of homosexuals with the aim to “cure” them is opposed by the American Psychiatric Association.

• A similar statement is published by the American Psychological Association.

• Exodus International carries a long list of articles about healing homosexuality through reparative therapy.

• The success rates of reparative therapy is reported on in this article at ReligiousTolerance.org.

• The home-page of psychologist Jeffry G. Ford has a long and personal article on his earnest attempts to cure his homosexual attractions trough therapy.

• This article at CreatedGay.com has the view that healing homosexuality is about helping people to be self-accepting homosexuals.

• The organization Homosexuals Anonymous goal is to help people live free from homosexuality.

• Whosoever.org has several strong articles that claim that the supposed curing of gay people is about controlling the homosexual feelings, not curing them.

• This web-page has an article on the experiments to cure homosexual prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.

• NARTH has this article on a report by Dr Robert Spitzer, showing that Reperative Therapy is effective in some cases. The report is criticized at ReligiousTolerance.org. Dr Robert Spitzer himself says that the media simplified his findings.

If you know about other interesting websites about this question, please give me a tip, and I’ll put the resource on this page.

INDICATIONS FROM THE INVESTIGATION

The scientific value of reports on the effectivity of curing homosexuals seems to be questionable, as supporters of the ex-gay movement claims a success rate of up to 80%, while the opposition says that the number is about 0,5%, making it difficult to assess what the real number is. However, as the investigation on the origins of homosexuality suggested that psychological elements may be one of the explaining factors behind sexual orientation, therapy might be effective in some cases. Unbiased research on the psychological element behind, and possibility to change both homo- and heterosexuality might bring more knowledge on this.

The results of hormone experiment on animals also shows some degree of change in sexual behaviour. The investigation suggests that it is likely that most research in the near future will be on the effect of hormones and genetic alterations. This is partly due to trends in medicine, partly to the economic interest in assuring the greatest possible reproduction rate in livestock.