Comments on: Activists to Accused Ex-Gay Therapist: Take a Lie Detector Test

By: David Roberts

David Roberts — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:35:56 +0000

I can see use of the MRI to test the veracity of a claim of orientation change for a study, but there are good reasons they are not used as evidence of guilt in a court of law. I couldn’t honestly fault someone for not taking one, innocent or guilty. And I can’t say I would believe the machine either way. But as Grantdale said, Downing didn’t really deny it happened only that the intent was not malicious.

At the very least, this sounds like the usual snake oil that accompanies so many in this bizarre little arena. I doubt a legitimate mental health professional would find such actions reasonable which leaves the motive open to question.

Caveat Emptor. If you seek out someone who promises they can do what can’t really be done, don’t be surprised by what you end up with. “Sexual orientation change” is pretty much the bottom of the barrel as these things go.

By: Dave Rattigan

Dave Rattigan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:48:51 +0000

@Mike A , you're probably right; not sure why I ran with that thought about the legal aspect. My underlying point, however, was that there are better ways of establishing the truth about what happened. But: what Grantdale said.

By: Bose

Bose — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:04:29 +0000

The obvious thing about the denial is that it’s not a denial at all:

I deny the allegations of malicious intent that are made in this video

So, Downing hasn’t denied the central facts exposed by his former clients, only the supposed “malicious intent” motivating them and TWO to come forward.

By: Mike A

Mike A — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:57:54 +0000

A court will not do the work of proving anything, because no illegal activity is said to have occurred.

By: grantdale

grantdale — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:50:24 +0000

Dave — here’s the link to the The Jewish Week article.

As far as getting the news out of yet another ex-gay therapist horror story, a public call to lie detector testing is more than fair enough. All good stuff.

It just wouldn’t work for actually detecting lies.

By: Dave Rattigan

Dave Rattigan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:28:21 +0000

Regarding this–

Of course, Besen’s motivation is equally or mostly to get the allegations out in the open, which is fair enough.

–just to preempt any fuss over whether I’m unfairly judging Wayne here, I’m not really bothered if that’s his motivation. Like I said: fair enough. It just struck me that getting the story exposed was more important than the mechanics of the challenge. Especially since it pretty obviously won’t ever happen!