Hilarious discredited 'reorientation therapist' Cohen slams 'Prayers for Bobby'
January 26, 2009
I really thought this sad sack had gotten the message when he and his therapize-away-the-gay practices provided rich material for Comedy Central and CNN. Do you remember Richard Cohen? A sample of his "therapy" from a report on CNN is looped below; see the hilarious segment here.
Anyway, the zero-credibility, expelled-from-the-American Counseling Association Cohen has resurfaced to object to the recent TV movie Prayers for Bobby. From his outfit, the International Healing Foundation:
Lifetime aired the heart-wrenching made-for-TV movie "Prayers for Bobby" this weekend. It tells the true story of a son driven to suicide by his mother's refusal to accept his homosexuality.
After Bobby's death, his mother, Mary Griffith, concludes that gays are born that way and the church was wrong in their judgment of those who experience same-sex attraction (SSA). We too believe that many people of faith are misinformed about this issue.
At the International Healing Foundation, we are fervent in our mission to promote the facts about SSA with compassion and love. We believe that people are not born with SSA and that changing from gay to straight is possible. We also believe that families and people of faith must learn how to love those who experience SSA. Over the past twenty years we have developed groundbreaking, successful solutions to these highly volatile issues through Coming Out Straight for individuals, and Gay Children, Straight Parents for families.
Each book presents the meaning and causes of SSA and the process of transformation. Gay Children, Straight Parents is a plan for family healing, teaching everyone how to love "gays" the right way. If Mary Griffith, and others like her knew this information, their children would find the love they desperately need.
"People can and do change their sexual orientation. I've done it, and I've helped others do the same," declares sexual reorientation special Richard Cohen, M.A.
Cohen further states, "There is no conclusive evidence that anyone's sexual orientation is determined from birth; no one chooses to have SSA; and change is possible." We grieve for Bobby's passing. We grieve for his family's loss. We know that these tragedies can and must be prevented. We have solutions and there is much hope.
About this therapy, Cohen has said "You've got to feel it to heal it." Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out weighed in on this nonsense:
Like a cheap infomercial, Cohen goes on to promote his silly products and continues to use his family - including his Moonie wife - in photos, as if they are mere props. Talk about moral turpitude and disrespect for the family!
...But, somehow the health of GLBT youths and modern science is irrelevant if it conflicts with Cohen’s religious dogma and bizarre, fringe psychological theories. Indeed, Cohen’s answer is having Bobby, if he were alive, pay him good money to bang a tennis racket against a pillow. Um, yeah, that would have saved him. In my view, Cohen is a greedy, opportunistic shyster who will capitalize on any tragedy to make a quick buck. Has this man no shame?
Related:
* Work of 'ex-gay' therapist Richard Cohen vanishes from NARTH, PFOX sites
* Ex-gay Randy Thomas torches ex-gay 'therapist' Richard Cohen
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