"I am immediately resigning my membership in NARTH to allow myself the time necessary to fight the false media reports that have been made against me. With the assistance of a defamation attorney, I will fight these false reports because I have not engaged in any homosexual behavior whatsoever. I am not gay and never have been."George A. Rekers, Ph.D.
NARTH has accepted Dr. Rekers’ resignation and would hope that the legal process will sufficiently clarify the questions that have arisen in this unfortunate situation. We express our sincere sympathy to all individuals, regardless of their perspective, who have been injured by these events. We also wish to reiterate our traditional position that these personal controversies do not change the scientific data, nor do they detract from the important work of NARTH. NARTH continues to support scientific research, and to value client autonomy, client self-determination and client diversity.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum’s recommendation of an "expert" witness to defend the state law banning gay adoption has become a big embarrassment for the would-be Republican governor. The witness, George Rekers, recently hired a gay male escort to accompany him on a two-week European vacation. Expert, indeed.
But the deal between Florida and Mr. Rekers would be scandalous even if the psychologist weren’t a world-class hypocrite. The state paid Mr. Rekers more than $120,000 to testify against a challenge to the adoption ban from a gay man seeking to adopt two young brothers he has raised as a foster parent. Mr. Rekers, a prominent anti-gay activist, was hired on Mr. McCollum’s recommendation in 2007 — three years after a judge in Arkansas found his testimony in a similar case to be worthless.
The judge in the Florida case, Cindy Lederman, wound up declaring the state’s gay adoption ban unconstitutional. In her ruling, Ms. Lederman wrote that Mr. Rekers’ testimony was neither "credible nor worthy of forming the basis for public policy." Yet the attorney general’s office appealed the ruling. Incredible.
Since the revelations about Mr. Rekers, Mr. McCollum has been on the defensive about hiring him. "There wasn’t a whole lot of choice," he said. The dearth of credible experts to defend the ban should have told the attorney general something. Reputable studies have shown parents’ quality, not their sexual orientation, is what counts. No wonder Florida is almost alone in barring gay adoption.
Mr. McCollum can atone for his mistake by dropping the appeal, and clearing the way for Florida to abandon this archaic law.
There are similar logical lapses in his resignation statement. Ex-Gay people don’t exactly recognize "gay" as a signifier. They define people as "homosexual-behaving adults." So for him to say, "I am not gay and never have been" is odd – since there’s no such thing. But he’s in trouble with the "homosexual-behaving adult" part too. None of us much care about his massage interests. That’s his business [and his money]. But it’s going to be a stretch to convince anyone that he was trying to convert young Lucien to Christian heterosexuality by having him give hour long, nude, "long stroke" massages once a day.
We respect the right of all individuals to choose their own destiny. NARTH is a professional, scientific organization that offers hope to those who struggle with unwanted homosexuality. As an organization, we disseminate educational information, conduct and collect scientific research, promote effective therapeutic treatment, and provide referrals to those who seek our assistance. NARTH upholds the rights of individuals with unwanted homosexual attraction to receive effective psychological care and the right of professionals to offer that care. We welcome the participation of all individuals who will join us in the pursuit of these goals.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Hamlet Act 3, scene 2
I wonder whether, Mickey, you’d be up for an educational post regarding the incidence of the violent protestation of persons against the hated interior stuff/desire/inclination…which of course gives rise to the BIG LIE, hypocrisy, bizarre acting out and so forth.
Another blatant contradiction of NARTH and other anti-gay opponents of equality appears in NARTH’s own statement that they are for those “who struggle with unwanted homosexuality.” These folks always claim that homosexuality is a choice, not an inherent trait–if they insist that homosexuals are so only because they choose to be so, then where does this “unwanted homosexuality” come from?
That, Jack, is brilliant! I’ve been on the edge of knowing that for days. I think it’s why I can’t stop following the story. Your observation is the one that’s been nagging me.
And Carl, Rekers is THE BIG lie personified. The horrid thing is that I think he actually believes the nutty things he says.
Jack, another blatant contradiction in the ill-logic of the founders of NARTH is their hysterical denunciation of such things as allowing children to play with gender-atypical toys or read books like “Heather Has Two Mommies” or “Uncle Bob’s Roommate.”
On the one hand, they proclaim that heterosexuality is the only natural sexual expression — nature’s imperative. But at the same time, they act like heterosexuality is so fragile that a child could easily turn gay by playing with the wrong toys or reading the wrong books.
I can only conclude that this reflects their insecurity over their sexuality — constantly afraid something/someone is going to tip the balance.