Will the Real Gryboski, Please Shut Up?

By Michael Wallace

Every week it seems that I can count on Mike Gryboski, an opinion writer, to deliver a scathing article to degrade the existence of a different population.

One week it was African-Americans, another week liberals were targeted, another week the Islamic community was demonized, and recently, he chose to attack the Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual and Transgender community at throughout America.

For those of you that have not yet read one of these articles you have missed out on an opportunity to witness a bold misinterpretation of social dynamics.

In the April 28th, 2008 edition of the Broadside, Gryboski published an opinion article entitled “Homosexuality is a Mental Illness.” Yes, that really was the title.

In the specific article of which I am referring, several arguments are used to support a claim that homosexuality is indeed a mental illness.

However, the article plays host to quotes that were taken out of context along with information that is both inaccurate and historically irrelevant.

As I am writing this article, I am scanning over the most recently published op-ed, and I would like to take this opportunity to just clear some things up.

1. The DSM-IV is a veritable Rolodex of disorders and dysfunctions that psychologists can easily refer to when trying to classify mental illnesses or impairments. It is used a guide to the ins and outs of diagnoses, and a method of referral for case studies. It is still currently used by psychologists and therapists alike.

Incidentally, the DSM-IV also carries a caution stating that its use by people without clinical training can lead to inappropriate application of its contents; and the appropriate determination of a mental illness can only be made by those with clinical training and credentials and that it should be no basis for generalization or final diagnosis.

It asserts that its contents “cannot simply be applied in a cookbook fashion.”

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association did indeed remove homosexuality from the DSM-IV as a mental illness.

However, this is the beginning of where certain portions of truth, eclipse the more complete truth in Gryboski’s op-ed piece. The American Psychiatric Association shares it pedestal with the American Psychological Association as leaders of organizations for psychological practitioners.

The American Psychological Association, however, has denied any cause for belief that homosexuality is a mental illness. However, what is never mentioned is the connective information that led the APA to deduce that homosexuality was an illness.

The APA asserts that homosexuality is normal biological behavior found in almost all species of animals. Humans, rhesus monkeys, swans, and bottlenose dolphins, yes, even Flipper, enjoy sex for the sake of sex with whichever partner they choose.

The latter three, however, don’t have to worry about articles in newspapers that condemn their lifestyle.

The APA also notes homosexuality can, in some cases lead to mental illness, because of the implications of outward homosexuality in American society. Homosexuality in America is distressing because of societal issues, this in turn, can lead to mental illness; Systematic sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuses of homosexuals often lead to many being killed, trying to kill themselves, or developing depression and anxiety.

Gryboski references a quote from American Psychiatric Association president Gerald Koocher, purporting that the president condemned the politics of homosexuality and psychology. But, Gerald Koocher, went on to say more.

“I would add that our patients ought to know from the very start that we as their therapists do not consider homosexuality a mental disorder. In fact, the data show that gay and lesbian people do not differ from heterosexuals in their psychological health. By that I mean that they have no greater instance of mental disorders than do heterosexuals.”

Koocher goes on to admit that sexual aversion therapy and attempts to change sexual identity may actually introduce mental illnesses. In fact, he goes on to say that the reason psychologists do not oppose clients who wish to change their sexual orientation is psychologists’ support for clients and “in a full multifaceted therapeutic relationship, the therapist has every duty to respond to patient choice and to help patients achieve their goals.”

Gryboski makes the claim that even though an individual may not experience distress as a result of their illness, they may still be afflicted with an illness. However, a mental disorder/illness is classified on many different levels.

A mental illness is classified as an “psychological or physiological pattern that occurs in an individual and is usually associated with distress or disability that impedes upon normal participation in society, development or culture.”

Gryboski also loosely defines what an egosyntonic disorder is as a “disorder in which the sufferer considers their disorder to be crucial to their sense of self.”

Alas, He’s right, but only in part.

An egosyntonic disorder usually deals with something like anorexia nervosa, where victims starve themselves to fit an ideal image. In this case, their ideal image is to be skinny. However, the reason anorexia is seen as something meriting treatment is because of the nature of the disorder, causing physical harm to one’s own body.

If we were to consider Gryboski’s definition, all of you who feel you need to work hard and succeed are mentally ill. Those of you that feel you need to be healthy, have a mental disorder.

Moving on….

The article mentions that because schizophrenia, Down Syndrome and depression have genetic roots and require therapy, that homosexuality should as well.

Seriously, how can you compare homosexuality with Down Syndrome?

Again, Down Syndrome, depression and schizophrenia are classified in DSM-IV’s index because of their impairments of social functioning and cognitive ability. Yes, they may have genetic origins and homosexuality may as well. Okay, fine, but so does right-handedness, the ability to curl your tongue, and your eye color. Surely these are not worthy of classifying as mental disorders or socially impairing.

There’s no reason to believe that any given homosexual will have any abnormal mental illnesses as a direct result of their sexality and even the APA agrees!

Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and of itself, is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information. In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new, better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate with homosexual orientation

-www.apa.org

In closing-- Homosexual lifestyle like heterosexual lifestyle may be a choice; your inherent sexuality is not.

Homosexuals aren’t mentally ill because of who they choose to sleep with. Look aroung, they’re your doctors, your neighbors, your governors, and just may be your children.

A beautiful thing about the George Mason University is the diversity of the university; however, as evidenced by Michael Gryboski’s article, it also has the capacity to be very ugly. Don’t be misinformed, folks, and don’t allow anyone to dictate what is right or wrong, healthy or ill about your life.

And here I am thinking people appreciated the diversity at GMU.

Guess not.

Call me crazy.