Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth
A Resource for Principals, Educators, & School Personnel
In 1999, GLSEN created the resource JUST THE FACTS, which was immediately
endorsed by a consortium of national organizations including the American
Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists,
the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers,
among others.
There has been renewed interest in this resource following the publication of a New York Times article on July 17, 2005 ("Gay Teenager Stirs a Storm") that chronicles
the dangerous experience of a young gay student in Memphis at a so-called
"reparative therapy" center inaccurately named Love In Action.
As former teacher and GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings told
the New York Times, "All reputable health and education professional
organizations have clearly and unequivocally denounced this 'treatment' as
quackery. Attempts to change young people's sexual orientation
through 'reparative therapy' have raised serious questions
about its potential to do harm."
Originally created for educators, JUST THE FACTS remains an invaluable
resource for all those concerned about the health and well-being of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, as well as their heterosexual
peers and allies.
From the introduction to JUST THE FACTS:
As principals, educators, and school personnel, you need good
information.
The reason for publishing this fact sheet now is the recent upsurge
in aggressive promotion of "reparative therapy" and "transformational
ministry." "Reparative therapy" refers to psychotherapy to eliminate
an individual's attractions to members of their own gender. "Transformational
ministry" refers to the use of religion to eliminate those desires. Since
1998, a number of organizations have invested significant resources in
the promotion of "reparative therapy" and "transformational ministry"
in the press, in conferences targeting educators, and in television and
newspaper ads.
This fact sheet provides information from physicians, counselors, social
workers, psychologists, legal experts, and educators who are knowledgeable
about the development of sexual orientation in youth and the issues raised
by "reparative therapy" and "transformational ministry." We hope that
you and others who care about and work with youth will review the factual
and scientific information provided herein and weigh it carefully.
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