gaygroups
05-01-2005, 06:50 PM
New York City) The Mautner Project, a National Lesbian Health Organization, Friday said it was shocking that Dr. Warren Throckmorton had been reappointed to the advisory board of Magellan Health Services.
Throckmorton is a leading advocate the so-called ex-gay movement and believes that one's sexuality can be altered by psychology and faith.
Throckmorton was asked to leave Magellan's National Professional Advisory Council in February over complaints about his advocacy for so-called gay-straight conversion.
Magellan Health Services is the largest mental health management company in the country and has contracts with Independence Blue Cross and Aetna Inc.
Magellan, allegedly after pressure from conservative Christian groups, invited Throckmorton to rejoin the National Professional Advisory Council and he has accepted. (story (http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/042705exGay.htm))
"Professional mental and behavioral health associations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have consistently discredited 'reparative therapy,' the kind of therapy promoted by Throckmorton," said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project.
"In our 15 years of providing support and service to lesbians in crisis, the Mautner Project has experienced firsthand the damage and trauma caused by reparative therapies such as the kind Throckmorton promotes.
But, Throckmorton disputes DeBold's assertions.
"I am not a reparative therapist," Throckmorton told 365Gay.com.
"I do however believe sexual feelings can be quite flexible for an undetermined number of people. Research into this issue has not discredited the concept of change in sexual attractions."
DeBold and most psychiatrists disagree.
"As the nation's largest mental health provider, Magellan's announcement of Throckmorton's reappointment should raise a red flag about the provider's agenda and future effectiveness in serving the mental health community," DeBold said.
The Mautner Project is calling on Magellan to terminate its relationship with Throckmorton.
"We challenge Magellan to staff their National Advisory Council with health professionals who are qualified and unbiased in their views about providing quality behavioral health services to LBGT as well as non-gay individuals."
by Doug Windsor 365Gay.com New York Bureau
Visit 365Gay.com for more great articles.
Throckmorton is a leading advocate the so-called ex-gay movement and believes that one's sexuality can be altered by psychology and faith.
Throckmorton was asked to leave Magellan's National Professional Advisory Council in February over complaints about his advocacy for so-called gay-straight conversion.
Magellan Health Services is the largest mental health management company in the country and has contracts with Independence Blue Cross and Aetna Inc.
Magellan, allegedly after pressure from conservative Christian groups, invited Throckmorton to rejoin the National Professional Advisory Council and he has accepted. (story (http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/042705exGay.htm))
"Professional mental and behavioral health associations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have consistently discredited 'reparative therapy,' the kind of therapy promoted by Throckmorton," said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project.
"In our 15 years of providing support and service to lesbians in crisis, the Mautner Project has experienced firsthand the damage and trauma caused by reparative therapies such as the kind Throckmorton promotes.
But, Throckmorton disputes DeBold's assertions.
"I am not a reparative therapist," Throckmorton told 365Gay.com.
"I do however believe sexual feelings can be quite flexible for an undetermined number of people. Research into this issue has not discredited the concept of change in sexual attractions."
DeBold and most psychiatrists disagree.
"As the nation's largest mental health provider, Magellan's announcement of Throckmorton's reappointment should raise a red flag about the provider's agenda and future effectiveness in serving the mental health community," DeBold said.
The Mautner Project is calling on Magellan to terminate its relationship with Throckmorton.
"We challenge Magellan to staff their National Advisory Council with health professionals who are qualified and unbiased in their views about providing quality behavioral health services to LBGT as well as non-gay individuals."
by Doug Windsor 365Gay.com New York Bureau
Visit 365Gay.com for more great articles.