dr. oz
photo credit // doctoroz.com
New York, NY -
Gay rights groups have criticized a Dr. Oz Show episode on the topic of 'ex-gay' therapy.
The timely episode aired as the SPLC announced a lawsuit against an "ex-gay" ministry in New Jersey and California Representative Jackie Speier introduced a resolution encouraging states to protect minors from reparative therapy, which promises to alter a person's sexual orientation from gay to straight.
(Related: Chaim Levin on undergoing "ex-gay" therapy: It wasn't kosher.)
Producers of the show were criticized for including 2 proponents of the practice.
"Producers of the Dr. Oz Show framed their program on so-called reparative therapy in a way that provided a lengthy platform for junk science. The first two segments of the show featured two proponents of so-called reparative therapy, neither of whom was challenged, at any point, by Dr. Oz or any guests. These two 'ex-gay' activists, however, were invited to stay and rebut statements by opponents throughout the rest of the program. NARTH representative Julie Hamilton was introduced by Dr. Oz as an 'expert' and spoke to countless parents and youth in the audience, as if NARTH's work and practices represent legitimate and acceptable medical practices," GLAAD, GLSEN and PFLAG said in a joint statement. "Although the show also featured guests who condemned the idea and practice of 'reparative therapy,' Dr. Oz himself never weighed in, and the audience was misled to believe that there are actual experts on both sides of this issue. There are not."
Dr. Oz responded in a blog post, saying he agrees "with the established medical consensus."
"I have not found enough published data supporting positive results with gay reparative therapy and I have concerns about the potential dangerous effects when the therapy fails, especially when minors are forced into treatments," he said.
The timely episode aired as the SPLC announced a lawsuit against an "ex-gay" ministry in New Jersey and California Representative Jackie Speier introduced a resolution encouraging states to protect minors from reparative therapy, which promises to alter a person's sexual orientation from gay to straight.
(Related: Chaim Levin on undergoing "ex-gay" therapy: It wasn't kosher.)
Producers of the show were criticized for including 2 proponents of the practice.
"Producers of the Dr. Oz Show framed their program on so-called reparative therapy in a way that provided a lengthy platform for junk science. The first two segments of the show featured two proponents of so-called reparative therapy, neither of whom was challenged, at any point, by Dr. Oz or any guests. These two 'ex-gay' activists, however, were invited to stay and rebut statements by opponents throughout the rest of the program. NARTH representative Julie Hamilton was introduced by Dr. Oz as an 'expert' and spoke to countless parents and youth in the audience, as if NARTH's work and practices represent legitimate and acceptable medical practices," GLAAD, GLSEN and PFLAG said in a joint statement. "Although the show also featured guests who condemned the idea and practice of 'reparative therapy,' Dr. Oz himself never weighed in, and the audience was misled to believe that there are actual experts on both sides of this issue. There are not."
Dr. Oz responded in a blog post, saying he agrees "with the established medical consensus."
"I have not found enough published data supporting positive results with gay reparative therapy and I have concerns about the potential dangerous effects when the therapy fails, especially when minors are forced into treatments," he said.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine
