National Task Force for Therapy Equality
The National Task Force for Therapy Equality (NTFTE) is a website maintained by a coalition of therapists who promote anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy. Their primary campaign goal is to stop conversion therapy bans.
Background
NTFTE emerged around 2012 as a coalition effort opposing state and local conversion therapy ban legislation for minors, following 2012 bans enacted in California and New Jersey.
NTFTE claims to represent “over 20,000 licensed petitioner therapists, psychiatrists, and physicians” and “over 1,000 clients and patients.”
Anti-trans activism
NTFTE has largely operated as a campaign banner uniting testimony from clinicians tied to allied organizations. Its signature activities include recurring “Dear Legislator” open letters sent to lawmakers nationwide as well as testimony before state legislatures and city councils.
2017 FTC petition
In 2017, NTFTE published a report submitted to the US Federal Trade Commission accusing Southern Poverty Law Center, Human Rights Campaign, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights of waging a “hate campaign” against conversion therapists. The report accuses the named organizations of “committing mass deception and fraud in their efforts to ban counseling by licensed professionals for clients distressed with unwanted same-sex attractions and gender identity conflicts.”
NTFTE lists seven specific complaints:
- Origins of false and misleading statements in California State legislation
- Misleading Statements and False Claims of Harm and Therapy Torture
- “Conversion Therapy Torture Camps” in New Jersey
- Ice Baths in the State of Washington
- “Not everyone walked out alive” in Virginia
- Samuel Brinton, Washington, D.C. and the United Nations
- SPLC Opinion-Based Smears and Innuendos Convey Sexual Orientation is Unchangeable, and Efforts to Change Do Not Include Aversive Therapy or Electric Shock But Regularly Lead to Suicide
Signatories included:
- Alliance for Adolescent Health
- Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity
- American College of Pediatricians
- Center for Family and Human Rights
- Christian Medical and Dental Associations
- Family Watch International
- Freedom X
- Jewish Institute for Global Awareness [continuation of JONAH]
- Voice of the Voiceless
People
NTFTE does not maintain a public list of members. The following people are named in their published work:
- Michelle Cretella
- Christopher J. Doyle: co-coordinator
- Laura A. Haynes: general board member
- Joseph Nicolosi, Jr.: co-founder
- David Pickup: co-founder
- Christopher Rosik
Associated groups
Equality And Justice For All (equalityandjusticeforall.org) is closely tied to NTFTE administratively. It shares the same mailing address and website listing on every NTFTE “Dear Legislator” letter. This suggests it functions as a co-branded or parent entity.
Voice of the Voiceless (voiceofthevoiceless.info) is linked to NTFTE via its co-founder and president, Christopher Doyle. Doyle is also NTFTE co-coordinator.
Selected publications by NTFTE
National Task Force for Therapy Equality (May 2, 2017). In their own words: Lies, deception, and fraud. Southern Poverty Law Center, Human Rights Campaign, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Hate Campaign to Ban Psychotherapy for Individuals with Sexual and Gender Identity Conflicts. https://www.therapyequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NATIONAL-TASK-FORCE-FOR-THERAPY-EQUALITY-FTC-COMPLAINT.pdf
Hamilton, Deborah (May 2, 2017). Press release: Medical and Mental Health Professionals File Groundbreaking Joint Complaint Against Gay Activists with the Federal Trade Commission. National Task Force for Therapy Equality https://www.therapyequality.org/national-task-force-for-therapy-equality-ftc-complaint
Resources
National Task Force for Therapy Equality (therapyequality.org)
Facebook (facebook.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
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