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// Workers AI · dad joke modeDoes Alliance for Therapeutic Choice bond well? Yes, it has a strong alliance.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from NARTH)

Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity
Formation1992; 34 years ago (1992)
FoundersBenjamin Kaufman
Joseph Nicolosi
Charles Socarides
Tax ID no.47-1045468 (currently)
13-3746962 (formerly)
Legal status501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
David H. Pickup (President)
Robert L. Vazzo (Treasurer)
Anthony Duk (Co-secretary)
Andrew Rodriguez (Co-secretary)
Michael Davidson
Christopher H. Rosik[1][2]
Revenue$110,241[2] (2025)
Expenses$60,763[2] (2025)
Formerly called
National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality

The Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (ATCSI), also known as the NARTH Institute, is a United States-based nonprofit organization that promotes conversion therapy[3]—a pseudoscientific, harmful, and ineffective practice intended to change one's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to fit societal norms.[4][5] ATCSI's promotion of conversion therapy as a scientifically supported therapeutic method is contradicted by overwhelming scientific consensus.[6] As of 2021, ATCSI has not been recognized by any major United States–based professional association,[7] and no schools, universities or professional programs train its counselors in conversion therapy.[8][page needed]

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.[9][10][failed verification] As of 2026, the organization's official website directs mail and other deliveries to a private mailbox in Murrieta, California.[11]

History

[edit]

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.[12]

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.[13]

The organization had 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under its former employer identification number (13-3746962); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoked this status on September 15, 2012 for failure to file three consecutive nonprofit tax returns.[14] The IRS subsequently restored the organization's 501(c)(3) status under a newly issued employer identification number (47-1045468), effective May 15, 2017.[15]

Activities

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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,[16] 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".[17] Nicolosi worked with Evergreen's A. Dean Byrd to co-author several papers on conversion therapy.[18] Byrd also served as president of ATCSI and also published an article[19] in the LDS church's September 1999 Ensign.[20]

Controversy

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Stances on the etiology and mutability of homosexuality

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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,[3] harmful, and unethical according to major medical and psychological organisations in the United States[21][22][23] and elsewhere.[24][25] 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.[26]

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.[23][27] In 2006, the American Psychological Association declared that ATCSI created "an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish".[28] 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.[23]

Abba Goldberg

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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.[29]

George Rekers

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George Rekers, a conversion therapy practitioner,[30] was an officer of and scientific advisor to ATCSI.[31][32] Rekers has testified in court that homosexuality is destructive, and has testified against parenthood by gay and lesbian people in a number of court cases involving organizations and state agencies working with children.[33] In May 2010, Rekers employed a male prostitute as a travel companion for a two-week vacation in Europe.[34][35][36] 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.[37] Rekers subsequently resigned from the board of ATCSI.[34][38]

Gerald Schoenewolf

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In April 2005, ATCSI published on its website an essay titled Gay Rights and Political Correctness: A Brief History, 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.[39] 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."[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Board of Directors". Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Form 990EZ: Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax". ProPublica. December 31, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Haldeman, Douglas C. (December 1999). "The Pseudo-science of Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy" (PDF). Angles: The Policy Journal of the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies. 4 (1): 1–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ Sreenivas, Shishira (April 6, 2026). "What Is Conversion Therapy?". WebMD. Archived from the original on April 25, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ Mallory, Christy; Brown, Taylor N.T.; Conron, Kerith J. (June 2019). "Conversion Therapy and LGBT Youth". Williams Institute. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  6. ↑ "The evidence against 'conversion therapy'". American Psychological Association. April 1, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ Moss, Kevin (2021). "Russia's Queer Science, or How Anti-LGBT Scholarship is Made". The Russian Review. 80 (1): 17–36. doi:10.1111/russ.12296. S2CID 234307412.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Greg (2021). Still Time to Care: What We Can Learn from the Church's Failed Attempt to Cure Homosexuality. Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-14093-1.
  9. ↑ Sutton, Philip M. (November 2015). "Professional care for unwanted same-sex attraction: What does the research say?". The Linacre Quarterly. 82 (4): 351–363. doi:10.1179/0024363915Z.000000000147. PMC 4771007. PMID 26997676.
  10. ↑ Quandt, Katie Rose (August 8, 2014). ""Ex-Gay" Conversion Therapy Group Rebrands, Stresses "Rights of Clients"". Mother Jones. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Contact Us". Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ "In Defense of the Need for Honest Dialogue". NARTH. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved November 5, 2005.
  13. ↑ NARTH No Longer Providing Continuing Education to California Therapists. San Francisco Chronicle, July 2011
  14. ↑ "Exempt Organizations Select Check". apps.irs.gov. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Letter 947". Internal Revenue Service. August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ariel Shidlo; Michael Schroeder; Jack Drescher (2001). Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7890-1911-0.
  17. ↑ Park, Jason. "Therapy". Evergreen International. Archived from the original on April 15, 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  18. ↑ Nicolosi, Joseph; Byrd, A. Dean; Potts, Richard W. (June 2000). "Retrospective self-reports of changes in homosexual orientation: A consumer survey of conversion therapy clients". Psychological Reports. 86 (3_suppl): 1071–1088. doi:10.2466/pr0.2000.86.3c.1071. PMID 10932560. S2CID 36702477.
  19. ↑ Byrd, A. Dean. "When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. LDS Church. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Controversial Leader of 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Group Steps Down as Criticism Mounts". NBC29 News WVIR Charlottesville, VA. December 7, 2006. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  21. ↑ American Psychological Association Council of Representatives (August 5, 2009). "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts" (PDF). APA Policy Statement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender concerns. American Psychological Association.
    Also included within: Anton, Barry S. (2010). "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". American Psychologist. 65 (5): 385–475. doi:10.1037/a0019553.
  22. ↑ American Psychiatric Association (May 2000). "Position Statement on Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies)". American Psychiatric Association. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  23. 1 2 3 Lenz, Ryan (August 21, 2013). "NARTH Becomes Main Source for Anti-Gay 'Junk Science'". splcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  24. ↑ Committee for Therapeutic Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (June 2015). "Position Statement 60 – Sexual orientation change efforts". Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018. 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.
    Recommendations
    * The RANZCP does not support the use of sexual orientation change efforts of any kind
    * 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
    * 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.
  25. ↑ Board, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (March 2016). "Position Statement 83 – Recognising and addressing the mental health needs of people identifying as LGBTI". Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2018. [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
  26. ↑ "Charles Socarides Dies; Said He 'Cured' Gays". Washington Post. Los Angeles Times. January 2, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  27. ↑ Butterworth, Benjamin (March 10, 2017). "The man behind the lie of 'gay cure' therapy has died". Pink News. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Therapist who fought to 'cure' gays dies in California at 70". March 10, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Scandal Yields Windfall for an Impoverished City". New York Times. February 4, 1991. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Howard v. Arkansas - George Rekers Fact Sheet". American Civil Liberties Union. October 4, 2004. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  31. ↑ "NARTH Scientific Advisory Committee". NARTH. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  32. ↑ "NARTH Officers". NARTH. June 2, 2009. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Howard v. Arkansas - George Rekers Fact Sheet". American Civil Liberties Union. 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  34. 1 2 Schwartz, John (May 18, 2010). "Scandal Stirs Legal Questions in Anti-Gay Cases". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  35. ↑ Thorp, Brandon K.; Bullock, Penn (May 13, 2010). "How George Alan Rekers and his Rent-boy got Busted by New Times". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  36. ↑ Bryne, John (May 4, 2010). "Exposed: Christian leader caught with male escort says he needed help with his luggage". The Raw Story.
  37. ↑ Anderson Cooper (May 7, 2010). "Sex Scandal Accusations and Denials". AC-360. 1:10 and 3:38 minutes in. CNN. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Anti-gay activist George Rekers resigns over holiday with male prostitute". PinkNews, (formerly The Pink Paper). May 13, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  39. 1 2 Mock, Brentin (January 16, 2007). "Anti-Gay Organization NARTH Publishes Essay on Gay Rights and Political Correctness". Intelligence Report (124). Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
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