It is a matter of professional responsibility to respond to the inaccurate material both against me and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) (TAP, 30/3) and in a report to the Executive Council (May 1996) without opportunity for rebuttal.
Dr. Roughton has commented that I “misrepresented” The American's position on homosexuality in an affidavit to the State of Colorado (October 19, 1993) by not having cited in the affidavit The American's “Statement on Homosexuality” (1992) in discussing the diagnostic status of homosexuality as it appears in the Glossary of Psychoanalytic Terms and Concepts of The American Psychoanalytic Association (definitions of male homosexuality in both the 1983 and 1990 editions were written by me). It is my belief that the Statement on Homosexuality is in fact a nondiscrimination statement and has no connection or diagnostic relevance to the lack or presence of psychopathology in homosexual individuals.
In 19941 was accused by Roughton in the New York Times of “condoning violence” against homosexuals even though the journalist (who had interviewed me regarding the psychological meaning of the tragic murder of a homosexual man by an apparently psychotic heterosexual individual who felt he had been humiliated) had written to Roughton contradicting his unfair judgement of me. Despite this correction, Roughton offered no apology or correction, and went on to allude to these charges in a later issue of TAP. The aim of this harassment is an all-out effort to silence scientific views opposed to those of the Committee on Homosexuality, and to ultimately remove homosexuality as either a conflict or a developmental disorder from serious psychoanalytic theoretical and clinical investigation.
We urge all members to become acquainted with NARTH, to consider joining this important organization as members of The American. Our function is the healing of homosexuals who legitimately and urgently seek psychoanalytic help, as well as promoting the discussion of public health issues as regards homosexuality, free of censorship, and intimidation, and in accordance with the principles stated by the Social Issues Committee Resolution of The American Psychoanalytic Association (May 1993).
Charles W. Socarides