Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse and Father Paul Sullins unpack the myths and political narratives surrounding “conversion therapy,” sharing insights from their amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. They challenge the American Psychological Association’s portrayal of sexual orientation change efforts, expose the lack of rigorous evidence behind mainstream claims, and highlight how research on contributing factors—like childhood trauma—has been sidelined. The conversation also examines historical shifts in psychiatric policy, the suppression of certain kinds of research, and key studies showing that ethical, client-led therapy can yield psychological benefits without the coercive practices often cited by opponents.

Relevant source documents:
APA 2009 Task Force Report (140 pages) “Appropriate Therapeutic Responses
to Sexual Orientation.”
Bailey et.al. 2016 “Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science,” Psychological
Science in the Public Interest 2016, Vol. 17(2) 45–10.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/1529100616637616
APA Resolution on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, February 2021.
https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-sexual-orientation-change-efforts.pdf

Books referenced during the show:
The Case Against Conversion Therapy, Douglas C. Haldeman, editor, American Psychological Association, 2022.
Lauman et.al. The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States. 1994
Alan Bell, Martin Weinberg and Sue Kiefer Hammersmith, Sexual Preference: Its Development in Men and Women. (1981)

https://www.apa.org/about/policy/discrimination

Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/
Father Sullins' Reports on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts:
https://ruthinstitute.org/sexual-orientation-change-efforts-arent-harmful/

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