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(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)
"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."
©365Gay.com 2005
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