Michele Bachmann’s husband Doctor Marcus Bachmann has come under fire for using what is known as reparative therapy in his Christian psychology clinic in Minneapolis. Reparative therapy supposedly converts gay men into straight men via prayer. There is little scientific evidence that this method of ‘therapy’ creates permanent change.
According to the Huffington Post:
MINNEAPOLIS — The husband of Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann says counselors at his family’s Christian clinics are not focused on converting homosexuals to heterosexuality through prayer.
Marcus Bachmann told the Star Tribune in a report published Friday that his Minnesota clinics “don’t have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone.”
Bachmann’s comments follow the release of a gay activist’s undercover video that appears to show one of the clinics’ counselors offering reparative therapy to help him become heterosexual. The video produced by gay advocacy group Truth Wins Out was first aired Monday by ABC News.
Marcus Bachman, whose business has collected government funding from Medicaid-backed programs, says counselors follow the wishes of patients and don’t force any treatment.
Dr. Bachmann has denied calling patients ‘barbarians’ despite evidence to the contrary. Additionally, the clinic, which is co-owned by Michele Bachmann, has taken $137,000 in medicaid payments. Christians may have any kind of therapy they want, I suppose. However, should insurance companies and medicaid be footing the bill? Is this not a little too much of a cross-over? Is this therapy something a church could provide or is it using techniques that are approved of by American Psychological Association?
Michele Bachmann was one of the darlings of the religious right. She needs to know that she cannot switch that label off and on to suit her political needs at the moment. A president is president of all the people, not just straight people. Yes, the clinic is a family business, and has a great deal to do with her campaign. Americans are very interested in what goes on there when our tax dollars are funneled in to a clinic where unproven procedures and practices are conducted. Dr. Bachmann sounds like a charlatan if that is the kind of therapy he is practicing.
@Wolverine
“It is one thing for the Gays to win battles on the official playing fields. But, in my opinion, it as wrong for Gays to take an approach that says that, those who oppose homosexality on grounds of faith, are somehow evil bigots. ”
Well, that may sound nice, but did you know that Apartheid in South Africa was put in place and held there was because of their biblical beliefs that Blacks were born with the mark of Cain and lesser than their white counterparts? I believe that here, in the good ol’ south, back before the Civil Rights campaigns of the 60’s WHITE churches preached similar sentiments…
But yet NOW we look at those “biblical justifications” as evil and bigoted and from a backwater era we would rather forget.
Thank GAWDALMITEE that people can move past the ignorance, superstition and evil some “men of Gawd” like to preach as holy and Gawdlee and MORAL.
Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities….. Just sayin’
Are we? Then may I suggest cutting:
Spending for Iraq, Afghanistan, and all other multi-million dollar bases we operate worldwide
Farm Subsidies
Corporate Loopholes
Foreign Aid to nations who can take care of themselves…
That should be a few trillion right there. Then maybe some money can be used on the people of this nation FOR this nation – instead of protecting coroprate interests worldwide (militarily or economically).
Just an idea….
@Not Me, Bubba
Actually, I don’t have a problem with that.
Add cutting some departments out of the gov’t and that would be a good start. Repealing the HCR act and the remains of the stimuli bills would also help.
If I were so disposed, I would pray for you, Bubba. It would serve you right 😉
http://nashvillepsychotherapy.blogspot.com/2011/07/reparative-therapy-one-more-time.html?spref=fb
Welcome Steven Davidson. That is an excellent article and I thank you for posting here.
I hope our readers get a chance to go to your website.