Dr Öz angers gay rights groups

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet photo

Gay and lesbian rights groups in the United States have harshly condemned a recent episode of Dr. Mehmet Öz's show focusing on "reparative therapy,” a form of psychological treatment that claims to turn gays and lesbians heterosexual, daily Hürriyet has reported.
 
Several LGBT groups released a joint statement following Öz's show, accusing the doctor of providing "a lengthy platform for junk science."
 
“The idea of therapists attempting to change a patient’s sexual orientation has been proven ineffective and dangerous, and has been soundly and conclusively rejected by the entire medical establishment," the statement read.
 
The groups called on Öz to "stand...against this so-called therapy" and to show that "he does not support the idea that their sexual orientation should be repaired."
 
Öz soon responded to the anger through his personal blog, saying he featured both sides on his show "to teach everyone who might benefit from understanding the risks" of reparative controversy.
 
"The guests who appeared on my show on either side of this debate agreed that entering into any therapy with guilt and self-hate is a major error," Öz wrote. "Trying to change who you are instead of loving who you are leads to broken spirits and broken hearts. Encouraging self-acceptance is the only way to help alleviate the shame experienced by those who are struggling with their sexuality – and help them reach a place where who they are matches who they want to be."