National Religious Leadership Roundtable rejects reparative therapies

With voices that reflect a variety of faiths and spiritual and religious settings, the National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR), convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, speaks in unison and with passion when it comes to valuing each individual as a person deserving of love and affirmation.

The reparative ministries and therapies that aim to devalue and seek to change the God-given orientations and identities of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people – and often use a platform of religion as their foundation – are wreaking havoc in the lives of LGBT people and their families.

The National Religious Leadership Roundtable rejects the discounted notion being spread by reparative – or ex-gay – groups that the lives of LGBT people have no worth unless they are changed to conform to a “normality” which the reparative therapist or ministry gets to define and choose.

The gifts and talents of LGBT people are limitless and over the decades have had enormous impacts on all of society, including religion and faith. It is inconceivable to the NRLR that such valuable treasures would even be considered for sacrifice on the altar of reparative ministry.

The NRLR rejects the notion that reparative therapies or ministries are just another option for persons seeking to understand their sexual orientations or gender identities. Reputable professional counseling groups across the nation have rejected the validity of ex-gay therapy and have warned of its often devastating consequences on the lives of those who pursue it.