Mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments, says the American Psychological Association in a press statement released on Aug 5.

The Washington-based association, which represents more than 150,000 members, presented a 138-page report at the group's annual meeting in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday.

The "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts" also advises that parents, guardians, young people and their families avoid sexual orientation treatments that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and instead seek psychotherapy, social support and educational services "that provide accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase family and school support and reduce rejection of sexual minority youth."

"Contrary to claims of sexual orientation change advocates and practitioners, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation," said Judith M. Glassgold, chairwoman of the task force that presented the report.

"At most, certain studies suggested that some individuals learned how to ignore or not act on their homosexual attractions. Yet, these studies did not indicate for whom this was possible, how long it lasted or its long-term mental health effects. Also, this result was much less likely to be true for people who started out only attracted to people of the same sex."

The association said some research suggested that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

The 6-member task force examined the peer-reviewed journal articles in English from 1960 to 2007, which included 83 studies. Most of the studies were conducted before 1978, and only a few had been conducted in the last 10 years. The group also reviewed the recent literature on the psychology of sexual orientation.

"Unfortunately, much of the research in the area of sexual orientation change contains serious design flaws," Glassgold said. "Few studies could be considered methodologically sound and none systematically evaluated potential harms."

The association urged proponents of reparative therapy (also known as the ex-gay movement), many of whom are known to be aligned with Christian-based beliefs or groups, to consider multiple options, which could include celibacy and switching churches, for helping clients live spiritually rewarding lives in instances where their sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.

Two of the largest organisations in the world promoting reparative therapy are Focus on the Family through its Love Won Out programme and Exodus International with an affliated network of groups internationally whose chief message is “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.”

Reverend Steve Parelli of the MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches) in New York, who describes himself as ex-ex-gay, says the news should not come as a surprise to the evangelical ex-gay supporters who have read the books of the ex-gay writers themselves; some of whom including ex-gay leader Andrew Comiskey who himself revealed that he continues to "lust" after men even after 20 years of marriage to a woman. [For details, click onto the 'Ex-Gay Ministries in their very own (sorry)' link below.]

Speaking with Fridae in Singapore where he is on a Southeast Asian tour speaking tour and meeting with evangelical churches, Rev Parelli highlighted that the evangelical ex-gay movement in fact  "does not, in the fine print, claim to change sexual orientation."

"To be clear, the evangelical ex-gay movement uses catch words like 'ex-gay,' 'healing,' 'coming out of homosexuality.' But it is a bait-and-switch sell. Upon close examination of what the evangelical ex-gay movement teaches, any one who will give a simple read of their major writings will see that the evangelical ex-gay movement is teaching 'behaviour modification' not change of one's sexual orientation. The evangelical 'ex-gay' leaders teach in their writings that the 'change' they are talking about is a life-long process that involves multiple disciplines from accountability to rigorous spiritual disciplines.

"This is obviously not change," says Rev Parelli who is the Executive Director of Other Sheep, a worldwide volunteer, non-profit ecumenical Christian organisation with a mission to empower sexual minorities.

Glassgold's advice: "We recommend that psychologists be completely honest about the likelihood of sexual orientation change, and that they help clients explore their assumptions and goals with respect to both religion and sexuality."

A copy of the task force report may be obtained from http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/therapeutic-response.pdf.