CAMFT Statement on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE). SOCE is also known as "Conversion Therapy", "Reparative Therapy", "Ex-Gay Therapy" or any therapy designed to switch a person's sexual orientation.

September 20, 2014

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) reaffirms its respect of human diversity, including gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.ⁱ

CAMFT reaffirms that same-sex sexual attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality regardless of sexual orientation identity.ⁱⁱ

CAMFT affirms the legislative intent of Senate Bill 1172 (2012), a law designed to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors and to protect minors from exposure to serious harms caused by SOCE.ⁱⁱⁱ

Accordingly, the CAMFT Board of Directors states the following:

CAMFT condemns the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation on minors, an act which is prohibited under California law;^iv

CAMFT affirms the American Psychological Association’s conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation;^v

CAMFT endorses the American Psychological Association’s Resolution on Appropriate Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts;^vi and,

CAMFT endorses the American Psychiatric Association’s Position Statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation^vii , and opposes “…any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his or her homosexual orientation.”^viii

*This statement does not modify or amend any provision of the CAMFT Code of Ethics, or the findings and recommendations regarding SOCE issued by the CAMFT Ethics Committee, as adopted by the Board of Directors on January 9, 2011.^ix

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ⁱ           CAMFT Statement: CAMFT Issues Statement Supporting Marriage Equality.
ⁱⁱ          American Psychological Association Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts (2009).
ⁱⁱⁱ             SB 1172 (2012).
^iv          Id.
^v          American Psychological Association Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to
            Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts (2009).
^vi          Id.
^vii         American Psychiatric Association Position Statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation (1998).
^viii        American Psychiatric Association Position Statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation (1998) Id.
^ix         Ethics Committee Recommendations CAMFT Statement: CAMFT Issues Statement Supporting Marriage Equality.