Homosexuality is not a disease
Homosexuality is not a disease. This is a scientific consensus. There is no evidence to support this claim. In ethical terms it is an argument that does not hold the same way. Psychologists have been banned from offering cure / reversal treatments by the Federal Council of Psychology since 1999. This is a dangerous decision, albeit a preliminary one, based on flimsy and misguided arguments. Still, it contradicts all studies that point to three basic assumptions involving the theme: 1) understanding homosexuality as pathology, perversion or deviation is demeaning, stigmatizing and misleading; 2) conversion / cure therapies DO NOT work; 3) not only do they work, they cause harm and may be predictive of suicide attempts and consummated suicide, besides implying a series of mental health problems in a population that is already suffers daily the difficulties caused by a prejudiced, invalidating and violent social context with sexualities that deviate from the heterosexual model. Psychological practitioners who try to somehow repair or convert one's sexuality are being technically imperfect and acting ethically misrepresented. This is yet another attempt to de-characterize science and psychological practice and distort it from its secularity. Psychology must be informed by evidence and scientific study, and not based on moral precepts or opinions. Psychology must be secular and refute ties to religious traditions and denominations. Psychology professionals should be aware of their cognitive biases and personal beliefs so that they do not negatively interfere with their interventions. More than ever we need to work so that psychologists and psychologists are trained in gender and sexuality to provide higher quality, culturally adapted, ethical, empathic and sensitive care. This court decision is very serious, interferes with already well-established knowledge and technical positions and must be refuted, repudiated and opposed. We will not accept this setback.
By Ramiro Figueiredo Catelan, monitor and student of CEFI's CBT Specialization