David Matheson issues statement in response to his coming out
January 23, 2019
Salt Lake City, UT -- In response to a recent story by Newsweek.com about former reparative therapist, David Matheson’s decision to embrace his life as a gay man, Matheson issued the following statement:
“During my early career, under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, I identified myself as a “reparative therapist.” Though Dr. Nicolosi and I began to disagree after just a few years, it took much longer for me to begin to recognize some of the potential harms his approach could cause. I am heartbroken at the thought that I may have brought pain to any of the men I was so diligently trying to help.
“As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and as a Utahn, I was raised in an extremely homophobic culture. As I have reflected on that upbringing, it has been shocking to realize how I internalized those stigmas and let them guide my work for so many years. I realize now that, alongside the very valuable work I did, I also perpetuated some judgements that had caused me shame as a man with bisexual attractions by passing on the pain through some of the therapeutic practices that I now regret using.
“The type of therapy I learned during my time with Dr. Nicolosi--the type that presupposes that being LGBTQ is something that can and should be changed--is a practice I unequivocally renounce. I have not practiced that type of therapy for many years. I also strongly oppose therapy for minors that is aimed at bringing about a change in sexual orientation. The potential for harm to young people is very high.
“Over the years, my therapeutic work mostly included standard forms of therapy known to reduce shame, anxiety and the effects of trauma. In recent statements I have said that my therapy has helped people, but it’s important to clarify that the therapy to which I referred in those statements is not “reparative” or “conversion therapy," which attempts to change sexual orientation. I don’t believe that therapy can change a person from gay to straight. Rather, the work that has helped my clients has been standard forms of therapy that help individuals overcome shame and trauma like so many in the LGBTQ community continue to receive from living in homophobic cultures.
“I recognize that I’ve had a part in perpetuating homophobia in others and in myself. And while reconciliation will take years, I accept that I have a role in that process. As a next step toward that, I have taken my book, Becoming A Whole Man, off the virtual bookshelves until I can review and remove content I no longer agree with.”