Palm Beach Will Be Battleground Over "Curing" Gays
Gays rights activists will protest homosexuality reform convention
By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 12:00 PM EDT, Fri, Nov 20, 2009
Whether you're gay and looking for a "cure," or gay and want to stay that way, West Palm Beach will be the place for you this weekend.
Two competing conventions -- one hosted by the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and the other by gay rights activists -- will set up shop today at two different WPB hotels within a stone's throw of each other, according to the Palm Beach Post.
NARTH, which believes homosexuals can be "cured" through counseling and turned straight, has been around since 1992.
This weekend, the NARTH folks will be at the Marriott, the activists at the Crowne Plaza.
And with such close proximity between the two, they'll probably leave each other alone, right?
Wrong. The activists, including students from Lynn and FAU, have already said they'll protest outside the Marriott tomorrow.
"I don't want to just mute their message," homosexual Lester Leavitt told the Post. "I want to put these people out of business."
The protesters believe groups like NARTH encourage therapy that can be harmful to young kids who may be confused about their sexuality.
Workshops like "Encouraging Heterosexuality in Our Children," and "The Pastoral Care for Homosexual Attractions" will headline the NARTH weekend fun.
Julie Harren Hamilton, president of NARTH, said her organization has been protested before, and that nobody is forced into the group's therapy.
"A therapist can't work with someone who doesn't want to be treated," Hamilton said.
First Published: Nov 20, 2009 11:58 AM EDT
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