Testimony of Sandra Vincent Richard
of Coventry, Rhode Island
in support of Senate Bill 2827 Substitute A
An Act Relating to Health and Safety – Department of Health
Before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
May 26, 2016
Good evening Mr. Chairman and members of the Health and Human Services Committee. My name is Sandra Vincent Richard. I live in Coventry and my husband and I are parents of an adult transgender daughter. I am also the President of the Greater Providence Chapter of PFLAG. Thank you for providing me the opportunity to testify today.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PFLAG, we are parents, family, friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender non-conforming people. The Greater Providence Chapter is just one of over 350 chapters across the U.S. and abroad of PFLAG National, the largest grassroots based family organization of its kind. Founded in 1981 in New York City by Jeanne Manford, a mom of a gay son, PFLAG is a non-profit organization and is not affiliated with any religious or political institutions.
Through our core values of meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG seeks to realize our vision through a three-prong approach of:
The Greater Providence Chapter was founded in 1998 and is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit. Our chapter serves as a life-line to hundreds of parents and families, guiding them through the journey to understand their LGBTQ children and eventually come to full acceptance of the gift they are to their families.
Our Chapter support’s PFLAG National’s position on “Reparative Therapy” in joining the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association and the American Medical Association in rejecting efforts by professional and religious groups to change anyone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We believe such efforts are harmful to the emotional and mental health of the targeted individuals. These attempts originate from cultural bias based on myth, misperception and misunderstanding. We encourage all professional, educational and religious organizations to work toward changing these cultural biases rather than embarking on futile and damaging efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The record shows that “reparative therapy” has no support from the major medical and mental health professional organizations.
Please support Senate Bill 2827 Substitute A.
Thank you.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PFLAG, we are parents, family, friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender non-conforming people. The Greater Providence Chapter is just one of over 350 chapters across the U.S. and abroad of PFLAG National, the largest grassroots based family organization of its kind. Founded in 1981 in New York City by Jeanne Manford, a mom of a gay son, PFLAG is a non-profit organization and is not affiliated with any religious or political institutions.
Through our core values of meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG seeks to realize our vision through a three-prong approach of:
- Supporting families, allies and people who are LGBTQ.
- Educating ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges that people who are LGBTQ face.
- Advocating in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ.
The Greater Providence Chapter was founded in 1998 and is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit. Our chapter serves as a life-line to hundreds of parents and families, guiding them through the journey to understand their LGBTQ children and eventually come to full acceptance of the gift they are to their families.
Our Chapter support’s PFLAG National’s position on “Reparative Therapy” in joining the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association and the American Medical Association in rejecting efforts by professional and religious groups to change anyone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We believe such efforts are harmful to the emotional and mental health of the targeted individuals. These attempts originate from cultural bias based on myth, misperception and misunderstanding. We encourage all professional, educational and religious organizations to work toward changing these cultural biases rather than embarking on futile and damaging efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The record shows that “reparative therapy” has no support from the major medical and mental health professional organizations.
- In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed the term “homosexuality” from the list of mental and emotional disorders. Sexual orientation is not a disorder; therefore, it does not need to be cured.
- In 1990, the American Psychological Association stated that scientific evidence shows that reparative therapy does not work and that it can do more harm than good.
- In 1998, the American Psychiatric Association stated it was opposed to reparative therapy, stating “psychiatric literature strongly demonstrates that treatment attempts to change sexual orientation are ineffective. However, the potential risks are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive [suicidal] behavior…”
- The American Medical Association, states in it policy number H-160.991, that it “opposes, the use of ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy that 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/her homosexual orientation”.
- In 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior asserted that homosexuality is not a reversible lifestyle choice.
- Richard Cohen, one of the main reparative therapists, is permanently excluded from the American Counseling Association (ACA).
- “Reparative therapy” is unethical. It does not work and it is dangerous and destructive. The damage that can be done by this practice is real. It can destroy someone’s self-esteem and faith and may lead to self-destructive and suicidal behavior.
Please support Senate Bill 2827 Substitute A.
Thank you.