Homosexuality is NOT a psychological disorder: Chamber of Psychologists reacts to ‘ex-gay’ Matthew Grech

The Malta Chamber of Psychologists (MCP) yesterday stressed that homosexuality is not a pathology, mental anomaly or a psychological disorder: “In fact, in line with our sister association in America, the American Psychological Association (APA), we appeal to everyone to support us in the removal of the stigma of mental illness that shrouds people of lesbian, gay and/or bisexual orientation.”

The MCP issued the statement after the release of The Malta Independent online interview programme Indepth this week, in which Matthew Grech said that homosexuality is a psychological disorder.

Grech was also joined by Gabi Calleja, a prominent and longstanding pro-LGBTIQ activist who is also head of the Human Rights and Integration Directorate in the Ministry for Equality and EU Affairs.

www.independent.com.mt/archive/indepth

Grech said: “In a democratic country, I have every right to believe and proclaim that homosexuality is a psychological disorder. Therefore, the country is refusing to provide psychological help to those who believe this: to those who want – and have every right – to seek it. It is a denial of basic human rights.”

When asked if he was implying that homosexuals suffered from some sort of psychological disorder or disability, Grech said that it was not he who was saying that, but the “highest psychological body in the world”.

He argued that ‘every case’ of same-sex behaviour was tied to ‘psychological events’. “I myself come from this sort of background. I know the psychological events that led to my same-sex behaviour before I met Jesus. Every gay person I’ve met has been influenced by past environmental factors which contributed to their same-sex behaviour,” he said.

In its statement, the MCP said that “the notion of gay conversion, as a therapy or simply even as a concept, is in itself harmful and noxious to people from the LGBTIQ community, since it not only rejects a group of individuals based on unfounded promises, but also promotes a lack of tolerance to diversity within our community. In fact, being gay is not something that can be cured, or even treated, and the very implication of such is a form of homophobia.

“As a body, we promote respect and equality for all people and we strongly condemn any practices, public outcries or vociferous attacks on any minority group or section of our population. The discipline of psychology is concerned with the health and well-being of humans and groups, and we consider such behaviour to be a direct threat to public well-being. The MCP also promotes the importance of learning to know, accept, love and respect oneself for who we are; a practice which leads to our psychological maturation and integrated sense of self.

“Denying our true nature may in itself lead to psychological difficulties and denying our sexual orientation – if it so happens not to be hetero-normative – is, in fact, known as ‘internalised homophobia’,” the Chamber said.

During the interview, Calleja said that Grech sought to portray gay people as broken, sick or traumatised, when this was not the case. He invited viewers to take note of the APA’s statements on so-called ‘conversion therapies’ and sexual orientation, before adding that the APA itself had supported and endorsed every US law banning such practices.