Shameful Ex-Gay Event at local Church

September 24, 2013, Saskatoon.  Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren church today sponsored another attempt by fundamentalist Christians to promote the idea that something is wrong with gays and that Jesus can save them. Organized by the Christian Counseling Society of Saskatoon the event featured Wilna van Beek speaking about her "restoration through Jesus Christ after having lived a gay lifestyle for many years." Despite the evidence of all credible professional organizations to the contrary and laws in some jurisdictions prohibiting such counseling the Christian fundamentalists continue to misrepresent their religion and to denigrate gays  (LGBTTQQ). The gay community protested the event by sending members to the event and by providing messages of gay affirmation in front of the church and to passers by as shown in the sidebar photos.

In 1996 the Canadian Psychological Association issued the following Policy and Position Statement:
 
"1996  - 2 Equality for lesbians, gay men, their relationships and their families
The Canadian Psychological Association supports the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected ground of discrimination against lesbians, gay men, their relationships and their families in all human rights legislation, public policy, regulation, procedure and practice; and
The Canadian Psychological Association strongly opposes prejudice, bias and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas including spousal and family relationships, benefits and privileges, employment, goods, services, facilities, housing and accommodation."

MSNBC August 29, 2013 reported "A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday upheld California’s law prohibiting licensed professionals from counseling gay and lesbian minors to change their sexual orientation."

Monday August 19th, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey declared the practice of conversion therapy on minors  illegal in the state of New Jersey by signing into law bill A3500. Christie was found  in support of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) findings of conversion therapy in which results of conversion therapy were found to pose critical health risks including but not limited to depression, substance abuse, social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem end suicidal thoughts."


The American Psychological Association (APA) has the following position statement:


"(Chicago, August 14, 1997). The Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association (APA) has passed a resolution affirming four basic principles with regard to treatments to alter sexual orientation, so-called conversion or reparative therapies.
These principles are:

• Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and the APA opposes all portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual people as mentally ill and in need of treatment due to their sexual orientation;

• Psychologists do not knowingly participate in or condone discriminatory practices with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients;

• Psychologists respect the rights of individuals, including lesbian, gay and bisexual clients to privacy, confidentiality, self-determination and autonomy;

• Psychologists obtain appropriate informed consent to therapy in their work with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients."

The resolution further states that the APA "urges all mental health professionals to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with homosexual orientation."