Petition CAMFT to Support LGBTQ Mental Health

Dear CAMFT Board,

We, the undersigned, find the stance the CAMFT Board has taken regarding same-sex relationships and parenting to be of grave concern to all who work with, are allies of,
or are part of the LGBTQ community.  In addition to refusing to take a
public stand on marriage and parenting equality, articles were recently solicited by
CAMFT for its professional publication endorsing discrimination against
LGBTQ people as a valid stance for mental health professionals.

Articles that defame and de-humanize the LGBTQ
community in a publication geared to mental health professionals
affects the larger community. CAMFT has directly undermined gains that
have been made in the mental health field to discredit hurtful myths
and stereotypes that affect LGBTQ people.

Mental health organizations such as the American Psychological
Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have unequivocally debunked research
cited in your publication. All of these organizations are taking an
active role in educating the public as to why de-stigmatizing same-sex relationships and parenting is an important mental health issue. Even historically conservative organizations such as the American Psychoanalytic Association have condemned "reparative" treatments.  All of these organizations have actively repudiated the very positions of the authors that CAMFT actively sought out to argue a case against marriage equality and same-sex parenting.

Putting out a publication with parallel sections for and against
same-sex relationships and parenting means CAMFT takes the stance that
both viewpoints are equally valid and have equal professional
legitimacy. This stance causes direct damage to LGBTQ people as it
explicitly legitimizes discrimination as a valid position for those in
the psychotherapeutic community, a community that many LGBTQ people
both work in and turn to.

Hate crimes and discrimination against the LGBTQ community are real.
All who work with, are part of, or are allies of LGBTQ people should
feel assured when either going to or referring to an MFT in California
that MFT%u2019s are committed to providing appropriate treatment.
Appropriate treatment and best practices do not include viewing
same-sex relationships as intrinsically pathological. The California
Association of Marriage and Family Therapists is giving no public
assurance that MFT%u2019s are committed to best practices and appropriate
treatment in regards to LGBTQ people.

We, the undersigned, support the many MFT%u2019s who demand that CAMFT
rectify this situation.  We join them in asking the organization to
rigorously examine how, under the guise of "healthy discourse,"
blatant discrimination, vilification, and defamation came
to be portrayed as a legitimate mental health stance.

It is our hope that we can restore our faith in the Marriage and
Family Therapists of California by your efforts to join the
professional ranks of those who support the mental and physical health of LGBT individuals and families via best practice as well as commitment to furthering education regarding cultural sensitivity and competence regarding treating LGBTQ peoples.

We, the undersigned, believe that your stance on this issue affects
the greater community and must be rectified.