The Psychoanalyst and 'the Homosexual': A Long, Dark Journey into Light

We are emerging from an unenlightened time in American society when the homophobia in our laws, religious institutions, and the popular media reinforced severely negative portrayals of ¿homosexuals¿ as criminals, sinners, and degenerates. For much of the twentieth century it was seen as progress when mental health professionals deemed LGBT people as ¿sick¿ and devised treatments to try and cure them. Ultimately, when political activists and the research community challenged the science and even the ethics of such methods, leading voices within the psychoanalytic community staunchly held on to unscientific views. Consequently, many people were harmed by false promises and questionable practices that were guided by faulty theory. This presentation will explore that history, partly as a cautionary tale of what can happen when bias replaces critical thinking.Open to mental health professionals and anyone else with an interest in this topic. This program is at an intermediate instructional level. Up to 2 Category I CME credits are offered through the American Psychoanalytic Association.Location: UNC School of Social Work