Reparative Therapy Discussion On ‘Dr. Oz Show’ Angered Gay Advocates

Gay cure reparative therapy advocates that appeared on The Dr. Oz Show angered gay advocacy groups. GLAAD and related groups complained about the Wednesday episode of the show that offered a forum that included supporters of reparative therapy techniques.

The Dr. Oz Show episode included appearance from People Can Change, a pro-reparative therapy group. Individuals from the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality were also included in the forum. Members of the group have clashed with representatives of the medical establishment on the gay cure issues in the past, according to Radar Online.

GLAAD President Herndon Graddick claims that Dr. Oz was wrong to indirectly tout a theory that Graddick’s considers to have been proven both dangerous and ineffective by the medical establishment. Graddick also had this to say about the reparative therapy gay cure discussion on The Dr. Oz Show:

“That line of thinking is outdated, ultimately harmful, and in modern media, should be treated like lobotomies or medical mercury.”

Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard stated that Dr. Oz should have used a more cautious approach to giving a national stage to the reparative therapy movement. Dr. Byard feels the gay cure idea has been “consistently repudiated as harmful to youth.”

The Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gay group released this statement about the reparative therapy gay cure segment:

“Although the show also featured guests who condemned the idea and practice of reparative therapy, Dr. Oz himself never weighed in and the audience was misled to believe that there are actual experts on both sides of this issue.”