Changes

==Activism instead of science==

==Activism instead of science==

APA has become one of the leading organizations to back the claims of [[gay activism|homosexual activists]]. At least as early as in 2006 onwards, a statement on their website −apparently in line with [[dialectical unity of self-contradictions]] − have said that [[homosexuality]] ''"does not require treatment and is not changeable."'' In addition, the statement continued that ''"close scrutiny"'' of conversion therapies ''"cast doubt on their claims"'' that people have been freed from homosexuality. APA even has a Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Concerns office. APA's position on homosexuality has given [[gay activism|homosexual activists]] a significant boost in the national debate over such issues as homosexuality and "gay marriage." The [[Human Rights Campaign]], the nation's largest homosexual activist organization, lists APA's position statements on its website, along with similar statements from the [[American Psychiatric Association]] and the [[American Medical Association]]. This APA's stand has been however contested by [[ex-gay]] movement, including [[Christopher Yuan]] and [[Caleb Price]] who left homosexual lifestyle and consider themselves to be a living evidence that homosexuals can change.  Representants of [[ex-gay]] movement make appeal that ''"If they [in APA] are about science and not about [[politically correct|politics]], then they should be willing to look at issues involving homosexuality … in an [[Socratic principle|intellectually honest way]]. The reality is that people's lives are changed. We are living testimonies of the fact that people can and do change."'' The criticism of APA further points out that the members of the governing board of the APA use their position to steer the debate in the media and in the public in an unfortunate and unfair way to cast doubt on the men and women who have changed out of homosexuality. They are the ones who don't talk about a client's right to self-determination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-homosexuals protest APA's position on homosexuality |author=Michael Foust |publisher=Baptist Press, Southern Baptist Convention |date= 14 Aug 2006 |url=http://www.bpnews.net/23786/exhomosexuals-protest-apas-position-on-homosexuality |quote=Caleb Price, research analyst at Focus on the Family, called APA's position "hypocritical." Price says he identified himself as a homosexual for about 14 years but now is a Christian and heterosexual. "If they are about science and not about politics, then they should be willing to look at issues involving homosexuality … in an intellectually honest way," Price, who also took part in the protest, told BP.

APA has become one of the leading organizations to back the claims of [[gay activism|homosexual activists]]. At least as early as in 2006 onwards, a statement on their website −apparently in line with [[dialectical unity of self-contradictions]] − have said that [[homosexuality]] ''"does not require treatment and is not changeable."'' In addition, the statement continued that ''"close scrutiny"'' of conversion therapies ''"cast doubt on their claims"'' that people have been freed from homosexuality. APA even has a Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Concerns office. APA's position on homosexuality has given [[gay activism|homosexual activists]] a significant boost in the national debate over such issues as homosexuality and "gay marriage." The [[Human Rights Campaign]], the nation's largest homosexual activist organization, lists APA's position statements on its website, along with similar statements from the [[American Psychiatric Association]] and the [[American Medical Association]]. This APA's stand has been however contested by [[ex-gay]] movement, including [[Christopher Yuan]] and [[Caleb Price]] who left homosexual lifestyle and consider themselves to be a living evidence that homosexuals can change.  Representants of [[ex-gay]] movement make appeal that ''"If they [in APA] are about science and not about [[politically correct|politics]], then they should be willing to look at issues involving homosexuality … in an [[Socratic principle|intellectually honest way]]. The reality is that people's lives are changed. We are living testimonies of the fact that people can and do change."'' The criticism of APA further points out that the members of the governing board of the APA use their position to steer the debate in the media and in the public in an unfortunate and unfair way to cast doubt on the men and women who have changed out of homosexuality. Board members of APA are the ones who don't talk about a client's right to self-determination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-homosexuals protest APA's position on homosexuality |author=Michael Foust |publisher=Baptist Press, Southern Baptist Convention |date= 14 Aug 2006 |url=http://www.bpnews.net/23786/exhomosexuals-protest-apas-position-on-homosexuality |quote=Caleb Price, research analyst at Focus on the Family, called APA's position "hypocritical." Price says he identified himself as a homosexual for about 14 years but now is a Christian and heterosexual. "If they are about science and not about politics, then they should be willing to look at issues involving homosexuality … in an intellectually honest way," Price, who also took part in the protest, told BP.

Clinton Anderson, director of the APA's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual office, told the Associated Press that there "is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. "Price, though, strongly disagreed. "The reality is that people's lives are changed," Price said. "We are living testimonies of the fact that people can and do change."}}</ref>

Clinton Anderson, director of the APA's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual office, told the Associated Press that there "is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. "Price, though, strongly disagreed. "The reality is that people's lives are changed," Price said. "We are living testimonies of the fact that people can and do change."}}</ref>