During his recent visit to London for a conference held by the Anglican Church, Joseph Nicolosi was interviewed on the BBC News Hour along with Professor Michael King from the University College of London Medical School.  Their debate was short but, as King put it at one point, robust.

Nicolosi normally comes out of the gate strong in these settings, boldly stating things which he later has trouble supporting.  Early on when he is questioned by King about randomized trials, Nicolosi begs off saying he is a clinical psychologist.  Later when asked directly again by King, Nicolosi claims that other treatments exist and are used without such trials — a different response entirely.  King is adamant about there not having been any such trials.

King also asks Nicolosi if it isn’t true that there is a statement on the American Psychological Association web site which warns about Nicolosi’s organization, NARTH, and the kinds of therapies they use.  Nicolosi replied in the strongest terms saying that was “absolutely not true.  I tell you that is absolutely not true.”  He challenged King to provide it.  At the end of the debate, the host reads the following from the APA site:

For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA’s concern about the position’s espoused by NARTH and so-called conversion therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish.

In reply, Nicolosi said simply, “you got me on that one.”  It’s a quick listen at only nine minutes.

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