This is regarding “Finding the freedom to be themselves, Gay students and their friends get the chance to dance the night away without worry at the 1st suburban prom just for them” (Metro, May 16). Is “gay” or “lesbian” really who the prom-goers are, or is it a case of premature labeling by self or others, yet one not based on self-understanding?
Professionals who have counseled those with same-sex attraction have found a high incidence of fear of the opposite sex, inadequate parent-child relationships, early sexual abuse and peer rejection.If my contention is valid–and supporting research is available–it would seem self-serving for adults, including clergy, to be encouraging the prom-goers instead of promoting self-understanding.
The students’ relationships will eventually include more than dancing; for many, the future will hold a shortened life span, varied and serious health problems, and relationship friction exceeding that among heterosexuals.
It would have been beneficial if the students and their chaperones could have attended the convention of the American Psychiatric Association and met some of the ex-gays and lesbians gathered there to demonstrate in support of reparative therapy, which aims at redirection of attraction through self-understanding.
