{{Short description|Former US organization promoting conversion therapy}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}} The '''Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity''' ('''ATCSI'''), also known as the '''NARTH Institute''', is a United States organization that promotes conversion therapy, a pseudoscientific practice used in attempts to change the sexual orientation of people with same-sex attraction.<ref name = Haldeman /> ATCSI's promotion of conversion therapy as a scientifically supported therapeutic method is contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus.<ref name="ajp">{{cite journal | last1 = Spitzer | first1 = R. L. | year = 1981 | title = The diagnostic status of homosexuality in DSM-III: a reformulation of the issues | journal = American Journal of Psychiatry | volume = 138 | issue = 2| pages = 210–15 | doi = 10.1176/ajp.138.2.210 | pmid = 7457641 }}</ref> ATCSI has not been recognized by any major United States–based professional association.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moss |first1=Kevin |title=Russia's Queer Science, or How Anti-LGBT Scholarship is Made |journal=The Russian Review |date=2021 |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=17–36 |doi=10.1111/russ.12296|s2cid=234307412 }}</ref> No schools, universities or professional programs currently train its counselors in reparative therapy.<ref>Greg Johnson, Still Time to Care: What We Can Learn from the Church's Failed Attempt to Cure Homosexuality</ref>

ATCSI was founded in 1992 by Joseph Nicolosi, Benjamin Kaufman, and Charles Socarides. Until 2014, it was known as the '''National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality''', and its headquarters were in Encino, California, at its Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Sutton |first1=Philip M. |title= Professional care for unwanted same-sex attraction: What does the research say?|journal= The Linacre Quarterly |date= Nov 2015 |volume=82 |issue=4 |pages= 351–363 |doi= 10.1179/0024363915Z.000000000147 |pmc= 4771007 |pmid= 26997676}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Quandt |first= Katie Rose |title= "Ex-Gay" Conversion Therapy Group Rebrands, Stresses "Rights of Clients" |url= https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/08/ex-gay-group-attempts-rebranding-narth-conversion-therapy |access-date= 29 November 2016 |agency= Mother Jones |date=8 August 2014}}</ref>

== History == ATCSI was founded in 1992 by Benjamin Kaufman, Charles Socarides, and Joseph Nicolosi. In an article titled ''In Defense of the Need for Honest Dialogue'', co-founder Kaufman explained that ATCSI was founded due to the American Psychiatric Association, and similar professional organizations, "had totally stifled the scientific inquiry that would be necessary to stimulate a discussion" about homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narth.com/docs/indefense.html |title=In Defense of the Need for Honest Dialogue |publisher=NARTH |access-date=November 5, 2005 |archive-date=December 17, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217043348/http://www.narth.com/docs/indefense.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2011, ATCSI failed to pay its dues to the California Board for Behavioral Sciences and was removed from the list of groups that provide continuing education credits to therapists in California.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727024616/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inalameda/detail?entry_id=93944 NARTH No Longer Providing Continuing Education to California Therapists]. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', July 2011</ref>

The organization had 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, which was revoked by the Internal Revenue Service in September 2012 due to ongoing failure to file required paperwork.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayRevocation.do?dispatchMethod=displayRevokeInfo&revocationId=494176&ein=133746962&exemptTypeCode=al&isDescending=false&totalResults=78&postDateTo=&ein1=&state=CA&dispatchMethod=searchRevocation&postDateFrom=&country=US&city=encino&searchChoice=revoked&indexOfFirstRow=0&sortColumn=ein&resultsPerPage=25&names=national+association+for+the+research+and+therapy+of+homosexuality&zipCode=&deductibility=all|title=Exempt Organizations Select Check|website=apps.irs.gov|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-date=August 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828052110/https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayRevocation.do?dispatchMethod=displayRevokeInfo&revocationId=494176&ein=133746962&exemptTypeCode=al&isDescending=false&totalResults=78&postDateTo=&ein1=&state=CA&dispatchMethod=searchRevocation&postDateFrom=&country=US&city=encino&searchChoice=revoked&indexOfFirstRow=0&sortColumn=ein&resultsPerPage=25&names=national+association+for+the+research+and+therapy+of+homosexuality&zipCode=&deductibility=all|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Activities == ATCSI claims to be a secular organization, differentiating it from other ex-gay groups that are primarily religious in nature. Nevertheless, ATCSI often partners with religious groups,<ref name = "SCTECR">{{cite book| author1 = Ariel Shidlo| author2 = Michael Schroeder | author3 = Jack Drescher| title = Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1jYuientrGoC| year = 2001| publisher = Routledge| isbn = 978-0-7890-1911-0 }}</ref> such as Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, Joel 2:25 International, Evergreen International, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Evergreen website has referenced the therapeutic methods of ATCSI founder Joseph Nicolosi as "beneficial".<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web|last1=Park |first1=Jason |title=Therapy |url=http://www.evergreeninternational.org/therapy.htm |publisher=Evergreen International |access-date=29 November 2016 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415231648/http://www.evergreeninternational.org/therapy.htm |archive-date=15 April 2005 }}</ref> Nicolosi worked with Evergreen's A. Dean Byrd to co-author several papers on reparative therapy.<ref name="Nicolosi2000">{{cite journal|last=Nicolosi|first=Joseph|title=Retrospective self-reports of changes in homosexual orientation: A consumer survey of conversion therapy clients|author2=Byrd, A. Dean|author3= Potts, Richard W.|journal=Psychological Reports|date=June 2000|volume=86|issue=3_suppl|pages=1071–1088|doi=10.2466/pr0.2000.86.3c.1071|pmid=10932560|s2cid=36702477}}</ref> Byrd also served as president of ATCSI and also published an article<ref>{{cite web|last1=Byrd|first1=A. Dean|title=When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction|url = https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1999/09/when-a-loved-one-struggles-with-same-sex-attraction?lang=eng|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org|publisher=LDS Church|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> in the LDS church's September 1999 Ensign.<ref>{{cite news|title=Controversial Leader of 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Group Steps Down as Criticism Mounts|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/5783226/controversial-leader-of-ex-gay-therapy-group-steps-down-as-criticism-mounts-dr-joseph-nicolosi-bows-out-after-racist-ideology-discovered-on-web-site|access-date=29 November 2016|publisher=NBC29 News WVIR Charlottesville, VA|date=7 Dec 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129145650/http://www.nbc29.com/story/5783226/controversial-leader-of-ex-gay-therapy-group-steps-down-as-criticism-mounts-dr-joseph-nicolosi-bows-out-after-racist-ideology-discovered-on-web-site|archive-date=November 29, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Controversy==

===Stances on the etiology and mutability of homosexuality===

The founders held that homosexuality is a treatable mental illness and that a person's sexual orientation can be changed through therapy. Such conversion therapy is pseudoscientific,<ref name = Haldeman>{{cite journal|url = http://drdoughaldeman.com/doc/Pseudo-Science.pdf|title = The Pseudo-science of Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy|volume = 4|issue = 1|journal = Angles: The Policy Journal of the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies|date = December 1999|access-date = March 16, 2018|last = Haldeman|first = Douglas C.|pages = 1–4|archive-date = January 7, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180107155046/http://drdoughaldeman.com/doc/Pseudo-Science.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref> harmful, and unethical according to major medical and psychological organisations in the United States<ref name = APAResolution>{{cite book|chapter-url = http://www.apa.org/about/policy/sexual-orientation.pdf|chapter = Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts|title = APA Policy Statement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender concerns|author = American Psychological Association Council of Representatives|author-link = American Psychological Association|date = August 5, 2009 |publisher = American Psychological Association}}<br />Also included within: {{cite journal|title = Proceedings of the American Psychological Association for the legislative year 2009: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives and minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors|last = Anton|first = Barry S.|journal = American Psychologist|volume = 65|issue = 5|year = 2010|pages = 385–475|doi = 10.1037/a0019553}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Position Statement on Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies)|date = May 2000|author = American Psychiatric Association|author-link = American Psychiatric Association|url = http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110110120228/http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 10, 2011|publisher=American Psychiatric Association|access-date = August 28, 2007}}</ref><ref name = splc /> and elsewhere.<ref name = RANZCP1>{{cite web|author = Committee for Therapeutic Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|author-link = Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|date = June 2015|access-date = March 17, 2018|title = Position Statement 60 &ndash; Sexual orientation change efforts|url = https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Resources/College_Statements/Position_Statements/PS-60-PS-Sexual-Orientation-Change-Efforts-(Ju-(1).aspx|publisher = Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180117011907/https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Resources/College_Statements/Position_Statements/PS-60-PS-Sexual-Orientation-Change-Efforts-(Ju-(1).aspx|archive-date = January 17, 2018|quote = The harm such therapies can cause to individuals, the contribution they make to the misrepresentation of homosexuality as a mental disorder, and the prejudice and discrimination that can flourish through the use of such therapies has led all major medical organisations to oppose the use of sexual orientation change efforts.<br />'''Recommendations'''<br />* The RANZCP does not support the use of sexual orientation change efforts of any kind<br />* Mental health workers must avoid misrepresenting the efficacy of sexual orientation change efforts when providing assistance to people distressed by their own or others' sexual orientation<br />* Mental health workers should assist people distressed by their sexual orientation by care and treatment approaches that involve acceptance, support, and identity exploration. These should aim to reduce the stigma associated with homosexuality and respect the person's religious beliefs.}}</ref><ref name = RANZCP2>{{cite web|author = Board, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|author-link = Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|publisher = Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists|date = March 2016|title = Position Statement 83 &ndash; Recognising and addressing the mental health needs of people identifying as LGBTI|url = https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Resources/College_Statements/Position_Statements/PS-83-LGBTI-mental-health-2016.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171001074818/https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Resources/College_Statements/Position_Statements/PS-83-LGBTI-mental-health-2016.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = October 1, 2017|access-date = March 17, 2018|quote = [S]exual orientation change efforts, or often non-consensual therapies intended to change the sexual orientation of a person, are now broadly understood to be harmful and unethical}}</ref> Socarides in particular said in the mid-1990s that he had treated about a thousand homosexual patients, and cured over a third by dealing with the parental causes of an absent father and overbearing mother.<ref>{{cite news|title=Charles Socarides Dies; Said He 'Cured' Gays|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/02/AR2006010200135.html|access-date=29 November 2016|agency=Los Angeles Times|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2 January 2006}}</ref>

Claims that pathologize homosexuality and state that it can be changed through therapy have been denounced by almost every major US medical association, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association.<ref name=splc>{{cite web|last1=Lenz|first1=Ryan|title=NARTH Becomes Main Source for Anti-Gay 'Junk Science'|url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2012/narth-becomes-main-source-anti-gay-%E2%80%98junk-science%E2%80%99|website=splcenter.org|date=August 21, 2013 |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Butterworth|first1=Benjamin|title=The man behind the lie of 'gay cure' therapy has died|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/03/10/the-man-behind-gay-cure-therapy-has-died/|access-date=20 May 2017|agency=Pink News|date=10 March 2017}}</ref> In 2006, the American Psychological Association declared that ATCSI created "an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/therapist-who-fought-to-cure-gays-dies-in-california-at-70/|title = Therapist who fought to 'cure' gays dies in California at 70|date = March 10, 2017}}</ref> The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) singled the group out as a main source of junk science used by hate groups to justify anti-gay rhetoric.<ref name = splc /> ATCSI was accused of employing abusive methods to attempt to change sexual orientation by the Human Rights Campaign and Truth Wins Out.<ref>{{cite web|title=False & Abusive Practices Aimed at "Changing" Sexual Orientation take Another Discrediting Blow|url=https://www.hrc.org/blog/false-abusive-practices-aimed-at-changing-sexual-orientation-take-another-d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312013259/http://www.hrc.org/blog/false-abusive-practices-aimed-at-changing-sexual-orientation-take-another-d|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2016|publisher=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=TWO Report: Gerard van den Aardweg, NARTH's Nastiest Reparative Therapist|url=https://truthwinsout.org/news/2013/02/33102/|publisher=Truth Wins Out|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205075015/https://truthwinsout.org/news/2013/02/33102/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Evangelical Professor Warns Christians Not To Blindly Support NARTH's Reparative Therapy|url=https://truthwinsout.org/news/2012/12/32468/|publisher=Truth Wins Out|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

===Abba Goldberg=== In 2010, ATCSI's executive secretary Abba Goldberg disclosed a 1991 criminal conviction for conspiracy and fraud, for which he served 18 months in prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/04/us/scandal-yields-windfall-for-an-impoverished-city.html|title=Scandal Yields Windfall for an Impoverished City|date=1991-02-04|work=New York Times|access-date=2018-08-24|language=en}}</ref>

===George Rekers=== George Rekers was a former officer and scientific advisor of ATCSI.<ref name="narthadvisors">{{Cite web |url=http://www.narth.com/menus/advisors.html |title=NARTH Scientific Advisory Committee |website=NARTH |access-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617025223/http://www.narth.com/menus/advisors.html |archive-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="narthofficers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.narth.com/menus/officers.html |title=NARTH Officers |date=June 2, 2009 |website=NARTH |access-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104213709/http://narth.com/menus/officers.html |archive-date=January 4, 2010 }}</ref> Rekers has testified in court that homosexuality is destructive, and against parenthood by gay and lesbian people in a number of court cases involving organizations and state agencies working with children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/other/howard-v-arkansas-george-rekers-fact-sheet|title=Howard v. Arkansas - George Rekers Fact Sheet|date=2007|website=American Civil Liberties Union|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> In May 2010, Rekers employed a male prostitute as a travel companion for a two-week vacation in Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Schwartz|first=John|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/us/19rekers.html|title=Scandal Stirs Legal Questions in Anti-Gay Cases|date=2010-05-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-26|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Busted">{{Cite news |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-05-13/news/how-george-alan-rekers-and-his-rent-boy-got-busted-by-new-times/ |date=May 13, 2010 |first1=Brandon K. |last1=Thorp |first2=Penn |last2=Bullock |newspaper=Miami New Times |title=How George Alan Rekers and his Rent-boy got Busted by New Times |access-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607062941/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-05-13/news/how-george-alan-rekers-and-his-rent-boy-got-busted-by-new-times/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="RawNewsMedia">{{Cite news |url=https://www.rawstory.com/2010/05/christian-leader-caught-rent-boy-needed-luggage/ |last=Bryne |first=John |title=Exposed: Christian leader caught with male escort says he needed help with his luggage |website=The Raw Story |date=May 4, 2010}}</ref> Rekers denied any inappropriate conduct and suggestions that he was gay. The male escort told CNN he had given Rekers "sexual massages" while traveling together in Europe.<ref name="CNN7may2010">{{Cite episode |title=Sex Scandal Accusations and Denials |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAiIXb9Aql0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103012135/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAiIXb9Aql0| archive-date=2010-11-03 | url-status=dead|series=AC-360 |credits=Anderson Cooper |network=CNN |airdate=May 7, 2010 |minutes=1:10 and 3:38 }}</ref> Rekers subsequently resigned from the board of ATCSI.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/13/anti-gay-rights-activist-resigns-over-holiday-with-male-prostitute/|title=Anti-gay activist George Rekers resigns over holiday with male prostitute|date=2010-05-13|website=PinkNews, (formerly The Pink Paper)|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

===Gerald Schoenewolf=== In April 2005, ATCSI published on its website an essay titled ''Gay Rights and Political Correctness: A Brief Histor''y, written by Gerald Schoenewolf, a member of ATCSI's Science Advisory Committee. The essay made several controversial claims, including that the civil rights and gay rights movements were "destructive", that the American Psychological Association had "been taken over by extremist gays", and that Africans were fortunate to have been sold into slavery.<ref name = SPLConEssay /> The SPLC called it an angry polemic that made outrageous historical claims and criticized both ATCSI and Schoenewolf. The essay drew little attention until a letter of protest was presented to ATCSI by the National Black Justice Coalition in mid-September 2006. On October 6, 2006, ATCSI published a statement: "NARTH regrets the comments made by Dr. Schoenewolf about slavery which have been misconstrued by some of our readers."<ref name = SPLConEssay>{{cite journal|url = https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2007/anti-gay-organization-narth-publishes-essay-gay-rights-and-political-correctness|journal = Intelligence Report|date = January 16, 2007|issue = 124|title = Anti-Gay Organization NARTH Publishes Essay on Gay Rights and Political Correctness|first = Brentin|last = Mock|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150726000244/http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2006/winter/one-more-enemy|archive-date = July 26, 2015|access-date = August 11, 2018}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Human sexuality}}

* Biology and sexual orientation * Environment and sexual orientation * Homosexuality and psychology * International Federation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.therapeuticchoice.com/ The Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity], Official Website *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061229153003/http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/copptherapyaddendum83100.cfm COPP Position Statement on Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Association For Research and Therapy Of Homosexuality}} Category:Conversion therapy organizations Category:Non-profit organizations based in California Category:Organizations established in 1992 Category:Organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights in the United States