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Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed October 5, 2026 14 min read

Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (ATCSI) is a conservative American group which believes it can “cure” LGBTQ people.

From 1992 to 2014, ATCSI was called The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). ATCSI self-publishes an annual “peer reviewed” publication, The Journal of Human Sexuality.

Background

After the American Psychiatric Association depathologized homosexuality in 1973, dissenters began organizing.

NARTH was founded in March 1992 by Charles Socarides (1922–2005), Joseph Nicolosi (1947–2017), and Benjamin Kaufman (born 1935). The founders tried to establish NARTH as a scientific association and to promote therapy as an effective treatment for homosexuality, which they regarded as a “gender identity disorder.”

In August 2009. an American Psychological Association task force released a report concluding that efforts to change sexual orientation were unlikely to succeed and carried a risk of harm. This review was then widely cited against NARTH’s positions.

In 2010, George Rekers resigned from NARTH’s Scientific Advisory Board after a newspaper reported that Rekers had hired a “male escort” as a travel companion on a trip to Europe.

In 2012, NARTH lost its tax-exempt status. That year, California became the first state to ban licensed therapists from performing conversion therapy on minors. NARTH-aligned therapists challenged the law in court in Pickup v. Brown. The challenge failed, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in 2014.

NARTH rebranded as ATCSI in 2014. ATCSI also created the International Federation for Therapeutic Choice (IFTC).

Cofounder Charles Socarides died in 2005, and co-founder Joseph Nicolosi died in 2017.

In 2018 ATCSI’s Journal of Human Sexuality published practice guidelines for “sexual attraction fluidity exploration in therapy” (SAFE-T).

In 2026, ATSCI-type therapists won a major legal victory in Chiles v. Salazar. The US Supreme Court ruled that conversion therapy practices can be protected speech under the First Amendment and sent the case back to the lower courts.

Anti-trans conversion therapy

NARTH frequently cited anti-trans extremist J. Michael Bailey‘s work on their website. NARTH was quick to weigh in with support after Bailey was criticized for a vulgar April 2003 lecture exploiting gender diverse children. NARTH President Joseph Nicolosi wrote:

Northwestern University Prof. Bailey’s message discussed in Joan Roughgarden’s column “Psychology lecture lacks sensitivity to sexual orientation” (April 25) may seem to promote an inaccurate stereotype to many people, but in my opinion, it does accurately reflect a key difference that distinguishes gays and straights: gender nonconformity. That difference between the two sexual orientations has been repeatedly shown in the scientific literature and confirmed by researchers who are gay themselves — including noted brain researcher Dr. Simon LeVay.

In 2004, on the same day Lambda Literary Foundation put out a message stating they planned to continue honoring Bailey’s book, NARTH also put up a generally positive review of Bailey’s book by A. Dean Byrd.

Also in 2004, David Blakeslee, Dean Byrd, Benjamin Kaufman, Joseph Nicolosi, and Warren Throckmorton of NARTH published an op-ed in The Oregonian:

“The argument for gay marriage is rooted in three popularized false propositions: 1) that same sex attraction is biologically determined; 2) that the challenges facing gays are primarily due to society’s oppression of gays, and 3) gay relationships are essentially the same as heterosexual relationships. A recent book by professor J. Michael Bailey, Ph.D. (“The Man Who Would Be Queen”) debunks these arguments, exposing them as myths of the politically correct. His book has been called, “Absolutely splendid,” by preeminent gay researcher, Simon LeVay.”

[…] A recently published study has found same sex attraction can not only be minimized, but that change to strong opposite sex attraction can occur as well, to include marriage, sexual enjoyment and children. This study was written by Robert Spitzer, the researcher in the early ’70s who worked successfully to remove Homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders 3rd Edition. Changing one’s same sex attraction to opposite sex attraction is clearly possible in some cases. Coercing gays into treatment for their same-sex attraction is unethical and immoral; but so is telling them that their same-sex attraction is unchangeable due to their biology.

NARTH comments on DIV 44 article

Madeline Wyndzen published an article critical of mental illness models of gender variance in the Spring 2004 newsletter of the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues (nicknamed APA DIV 44):

Transsexual Psychologist Urges Change In DSM

In a separate article in the Division 44 Newsletter, a male-to-female transsexual doctor, writing under a pen name, expressed his hope that someday the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual would be changed to normalize transsexualism.

Madeline H. Wyndzen states: “As a psychologist and transsexual, I find that the mental illness label imposed on transsexuality is just as disquieting as the label that used to be imposed upon homosexuality.” He said he looked forward to the day when his children will think that it was “unfathomable that I was once diagnosed and treated for ‘Gender Identity Disorder.’”

Note the respectful pronouns typical of these militant groups and their allies. One of their favorite tactics is to call us “men trapped in men’s bodies” (Lawrence 1998) or “man who would be queen” (Bailey 2003).

NARTH also wrote a positive review of Bailey’s anti-trans book The Man Who Would Be Queen. NARTH claimed in a 5 July 2005 article that Bailey is gay, but changed this on 11 July 2005 to say Bailey is “gay-affirming.” http://www.narth.com/docs/alleging.html

In 2005, NARTH commented on Bailey’s “male bisexuals are liars” study with Gerulf Rieger.

After originally claiming Bailey was gay and then changing it to “gay-affirming,” NARTH cites Bailey’s “gay, straight, or lying” catchphrase originally used in publicity for his book The Man Who Would Be Queen. This time, it got used as a headline for an article claiming male bisexuality doesn’t exist, according to a study by Bailey, Gerulf Rieger, and Meredith Chivers.

“I’m not denying that bisexual behavior exists. But I am saying that in men there’s no hint that true bisexual arousal exists, and that for men arousal is orientation.”

For more on this, please see the clearinghouse maintained by Lynn Conway. http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Bisexuality/Bisexuality-NYT%207-05-05.html

http://www.narth.com/docs/alleging.html

NARTH comments on transsexualism

Following on the tone in the essay above, NARTH published an essay in October 2005 By Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.

This article was first published in Ethics & Medics, October 2005, Volume 30, 10. It is reprinted by permission of The National Catholic Bioethics Center, which maintains the copyright. Ethics & Medics is edited by Edward J. Furton, M.A., Ph.D., Ethicist and Director of Publications. Web site: www.ncbecenter.org.

The overview cites Paul McHugh of Johns Hopkins, Ken Zucker and Susan Bradley of the Clarke Institute, and other well-known authors whose work has been damaging to those seeking trans health services over the years.

Fitzgibbons concludes that religion and therapy that conforms with religious beliefs will lead to “healing”:

Self-knowledge, forgiveness, skilled psychotherapy and good spiritual direction can all play a part in the healing process. Much more work needs to be done in this field. Parents, pediatricians and educators need to be able to recognize GID in children. Mental health professionals and priests should understand the origins of the condition, and know that successful treatment can occur in persons who come to them with the desire for a “sex change.” Finally, professionals with positive experience in treating this problem need to share their expertise with others.

Fitzgibbons, Richard P. (October 6, 2005). The Desire For A Sex Change: Psychiatrist says sex-change surgery is a collaboration with a mental disorder, not a treatment. NARTH first published in Ethics & Medics, October 2005, Volume 30, 10http://www.narth.com/docs/desiresch.html [archive]

ATCSI people

note: there is a gap from 2014 to 2019 between the NARTH and ATCSI listings online. Listing through September 2026.

Current (bold) and past Officers / Board

  • Shirley Cox: President; Board, removed from list 2026
  • Michelle Cretella: Board (2024)
  • Michael Davidson: Board (2019–
  • Anthony Duk: Board (2025–
  • Michael Gasparro: Board (2019–2025)
  • Sheri L. Golden: Board (2020–2022)
  • Susan Halvorson: Board (2019–2024)
  • Geoff Heath: Board (2019–2023)
  • Peggy McFarland: Board (2024–2025)
  • Carolyn Pela: President; removed from list 2024
  • David Pickup (2019–) President
  • David Clarke Pruden: Executive Director; removed from list 2024
  • Andrew Rodriguez: Board (2024–
  • Christopher Rosik: Board (2019–2023); President (2024–
  • Robert L. Vazzo: Board (2019–
  • Keith Vennum: President; Board (2023–2025)
  • Andy Visser: Board (2019–2020); President (2021–2024)

NARTH People

Founders

Officers

NARTH listed the following officers on their website:

  • Chauncey Adams: Officer (2010–2014)
  • Joseph Battaglia: Executive Director (2000–2002)
  • A. Dean Byrd: Vice President (2000–2002); President (2008–2014)
  • Michelle Cretella: Officer (2010–2014)
  • Marc Dillworth: Officer (2008–2010)
  • Arthur A. Goldberg: Executive Secretary (2004–2014)
  • Janelle M. Hallman: Governing Board Member at Large (2004–2008)
  • Julie Harren Hamilton: Governing Board Member at Large (2006–2008); President (2008–2014)
  • Jerry Harris: Vice President (2004–2008)
  • Mary Beth Patton: Governing Board Member at Large (2004–2007); Officer (2008–2014)
  • Lester Pretlow: Officer (2010–2014)
  • David Clarke Pruden: Treasurer (2004–2008); VP Operations (2008–2014)
  • George Rekers: Officer (2008–2010)
  • Elaine Siegel: Assistant Secretary (1998–2000)
  • Philip Sutton: Officer (2008–2014)
  • C. Downing Tait: Assistant Vice President (1998–2000)
  • Harold Voth: Assistant Treasurer (1998–2000); Board (2000–2002)

Staff

  • Linda Ames Nicolosi: Publications Director and Editor (2002–2008)
  • Frank York: Publications Director (2008–2009)

Participants

References

(). Conversion Therapy Online: The Players.

Pauly, Madison; Carnell, Henry (July 2024). First They Tried to “Cure” Gayness. Now They’re Fixated on “Healing” Trans People. Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/05/conversion-therapy-lgbtq-anti-trans-gay-gender-affirming-care/

Avoles, Gwen (July 3, 2019). Amazon removes controversial books by ‘father of conversion therapy.’ NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/amazon-removes-controversial-books-father-conversion-therapy-n1026446

Donegan, Moira (March 13, 2017). The Abominable Legacy of Gay-Conversion Therapy: Joseph Nicolosi, one of the pioneers of the practice, died last week. But his contribution to the field of psychology lives on. New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/141294/abominable-legacy-gay-conversion-therapy

Lenz, Mark (March 10, 2017). Joseph Nicolosi, Father of ‘Ex-Gay Therapy,’ Dies From Flu Complications. Southern Poverty Law Center / Hatewatch https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/joseph-nicolosi-father-ex-gay-therapy-dies-flu-complications/

Staff report (March 9. 2017). ‘Ex-Gay Therapy’ Leader Joseph Nicolosi Dead at 70. Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/ex-gay-therapy-leader-joseph-nicolosi-dead-at-70/

Potok, Mark (May 25, 2016). QUACKS: ‘Conversion Therapists,’ the Anti-LGBT Right, and the Demonization of Homosexuality. Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/quacks-conversion-therapists-anti-lgbt-right-and-demonization-homosexuality/

Quandt, Katie Rose (August 8, 2014). “Ex-Gay” Conversion Therapy Group Rebrands, Stresses “Rights of Clients.” Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/ex-gay-group-attempts-rebranding-narth-conversion-therapy/

Staff report (March 13, 2013). False and Abusive Practices Aimed at “Changing” Sexual Orientation take Another Discrediting Blow. HRC https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/false-and-abusive-practices-aimed-at-changing-sexual-orientation-take-anoth

Arana, Gabriel (April 11, 2012). My So-Called Ex-Gay Life: A deep look at the fringe movement that just lost its only shred of scientific support. American Prospect https://prospect.org/2012/04/11/so-called-ex-gay-life/

Rothaus, Steve (March 31, 2012). State doubled fee paid to anti-gay psychologist who just resigned from NARTH. Palm Beach Post https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/state/2012/03/31/state-doubled-fee-paid-to/7878295007/

Rothaus, Steve (March 31, 2012). Antigay activist took trip with male ‘assistant’ from Miami. Palm Beach Post https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/lifestyle/2010/05/06/antigay-activist-took-trip-with/7278826007

Lenz, Ryan (March 1, 2012). NARTH Becomes Main Source for Anti-Gay ‘Junk Science.’ Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/narth-becomes-main-source-anti-gay-junk-science/

Staff report (May 12, 2010). George Rekers Resigns From Anti-Gay Group In Wake Of ‘Rentboy’ Scandal (VIDEO: ‘Rentboy’ Speaks Out). HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/george-rekers-resigns-fro_n_573123

Staff report (May 6, 2010). Baptist minister George Rekers denies rent boy claim. BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8665812.stm

Power, Jennifer (May 7, 2010). Praying the gay away: when religion hijacks science. The Conversation https://theconversation.com/praying-the-gay-away-when-religion-hijacks-science-6463

Staff report (May 13, 2010). Antigay Groups Defend Rekers. Out Traveler via The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2010/05/13/antigay-groups-defend-rekers

Staff report (May 12, 2010). Anti-gay rights activist resigns after trip with male escort. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/12/anit.gay.activist.resigns/

Glassgold, Judith M.; Beckstead, Lee; Drescher, Jack; Greene, Beverly; Miller, Robin Lin; Worthington, Roger L. (August 2009). Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.pdf

Anti-trans coverage

Carey, Benedict (May 18, 2012). Psychiatry Giant Sorry for Backing Gay ‘Cure.’ New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/health/dr-robert-l-spitzer-noted-psychiatrist-apologizes-for-study-on-gay-cure.html

Selected publications by NARTH / ATCSI

O’Leary, Dale (April 6, 2000). Recent Studies on Homosexuality and Mental Health. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/recent.html [archive]

Staff report (April 6, 2000). Archives of General Psychiatry Article Asks, Could Homosexuality be a “Developmental Error”? NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/archives.html

Whitehead, N.E. (March 26, 2001). The Importance of Twin Studies. http://www.narth.com/docs/whitehead.html [archive]

  • Bailey, J. M. (1991). A Genetic Study of Male Sexual Orientation. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48(12), 1089. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810360053008
  • Bailey, J. M. (1993). Heritable Factors Influence Sexual Orientation in Women. Archives of General Psychiatry, 50(3), 217. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1993.01820150067007
  • Bailey, J. M., Dunne, M. P., & Martin, N. G. (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(3), 524–536. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.3.524
  • Bailey, J. M., & Pillard, R. C. (1995). Genetics of Human Sexual Orientation. Annual Review of Sex Research, 6(1), 126–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/10532528.1995.10559903
  • Green, R. (1987). The Sissy Boy Syndrome. Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1ww3v4c

Nicolosi, Linda Ames (May 7, 2002). New Evidence for Biological Influence on Gender. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/toxins.html [archive]

  • Lalumière, M.L.; Blanchard, R.; Zucker, K.L. (2000): “Sexual orientation and handedness in Men and Women: a meta-analysis.” Psychological Bulletin 126, 575-592.
  • Bailey, J.M., “Commentary: Homosexuality and Mental Illness,” Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1999, vol. 56, no. 10, 876-880.

A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D.
Shirley E. Cox, Ph.D.
Jeffrey W. Robinson, Ph.D. (25 June 2001). The Innate-Immutable Argument Finds No Basis in Science. http://www.narth.com/docs/innate.html [archive] Salt Lake City Tribune, in slightly abbreviated form, on May 27th, 2001

  • Dean Hamer
  • Simon LeVay
  • Mark Breedlove
  • Bailey and Pillard
  • Lisa Diamond
  • Robert Spitzer
  • Camille Paglia
  • Doug Haldeman
  • Anne Fausto-Sterling

Whitehead, Neil E. ( 3 December 2002). The Importance of Twin Studies. http://www.narth.com/docs/whitehead2.html [archive]

  • Bailey, JM; Pillard,RC (1991): A genetic study of male sexual orientation. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 48, 1089-1096.
  • Bailey, JM; Pillard,RC; Neale,MC; Agyei,Y (1993): Heritable factors influence sexual orientation in women. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 50, 217-223.
  • Bailey, JM; Dunne,MP; Martin,NG (2000): Genetic and Environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample. J. Pers. Social Psychology 78, 524-536.
  • Bailey, NM; Pillard,RC (1995): Genetics of human sexual orientation. Ann. Rev. Sex Research 6, 126-150.
  • Green, R (1987). The “Sissy Boy Syndrome” and the Development of Homosexuality. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.

N. E. Whitehead (26 January 2001). Is There a Link Between Left-Handedness and Homosexuality? http://www.narth.com/docs/lefthand.html [archive]

  • Lalumière, M.L.; Blanchard, R.; Zucker, K.L. (2000): “Sexual orientation and handedness in Men and Women: a meta-analysis.” Psychological Bulletin 126, 575-592.
  • Bailey, J.M., “Commentary: Homosexuality and Mental Illness,” Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1999, vol. 56, no. 10, 876-880.

Homosexuality and American Public Life Edited by Christopher Wolfe
Spence Publishing Co.  Dr. Jeffrey Satinover’s chapter, entitled, “The Biology of Homosexuality: Science or Politics? http://www.narth.com/docs/bioresearch.html [archive]

  • J. M. Bailey et al., “Heritable Factors Influence Sexual Orientations in Women,” Archives of General Psychiatry 50, no. 3, pp. 217-23.
  • S. LeVay, “A Difference in Hypothalamic Structure Between heterosexual and Homosexual Men,” Science 253 (1991), pp. 1034-37.
  • G. Gabbard, “Psychodynamic Psychiatry in the ‘Decade of the Brain,'” American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, no. 8 (1992), pp. 991-98.

Linda Nicolosi (11 September 1997). Understanding How We Think about Homosexuality. [interview with Steven Goldberg] http://www.narth.com/docs/howthink.html [archive]

http://www.narth.com/docs/dallas.html

Anton N. Marco (30 September 2002). Gay “Marriage”? http://www.narth.com/docs/marco.html [archive]

  • Joseph Nicolosi, “Let’s Be Straight: A Cure Is Possible,” Insight, December 6, 1993, p. 24.

Staff report (22 December 2000). Bibliography for CMA statement on homosexuality, http://www.narth.com/docs/hopebib.html [archive]

Nicolosi, Linda A. (March 26, 2001). Does “Born That Way” Mean “Designed That Way”? NARTH https://narth.com/docs/bornthatway.html [archive]

  • 1. Lalumiere, M.L.; Blanchard, R.; Zucker, K.L. (2000): “Sexual orientation and handedness in Men and Women: a meta-analysis.” Psychological Bulletin 126, 575-592.
  • 2. Bailey, J.M., “Commentary: Homosexuality and Mental Illness,” Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1999, vol. 56, no. 10, 876-880.

Staff report (July 11, 2005). Northwestern University Graduate Student Publishes Study Alleging Bisexuality Not A Sexual Orientation. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/alleging.html [archive]

Staff report (May 11, 2004). A.P.A.’s Society for the Study of Gay Issues Urges Psychologists To Become Political Activists. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/urges.html [archive]

Blakeslee, David (March 20, 2004). Name-calling undermines search for truth in gay marriage debate. The Oregonian original url http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/ editorial/107978735970950.xml

Byrd, A. Dean (February 19, 2004). Review: The Man Who Would Be Queen,
by J. Michael Bailey, Ph. D. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/queen.html [archive]

Staff report (updated April 29, 2003). Regent University Law Review Challenges Mainstream Gay-Rights Perspective. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/regent.html [archive]

Rosik, Christopher H. (2001). Conversion Therapy Revisited: Parameters And Rationale For Ethical Care. The Journal of Pastoral Care, Spring 2001, pp. 47-67. republished on NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/conversiontherapy.html

Yarhouse, Mark A. (1998). When Families Present With Concerns About An
Adolescent’s Experience of Same-Sex Attraction. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 1998, vol. 26, pp. 321-330. via NARTH https://narth.com/docs/concerns.html [archive]

Catholic Medical Association via NARTH (January 24, 2001). Homosexuality and Hope: Statement Of The Catholic Medical Association, November, 2000 https://narth.com/docs/hope.html [archive]

  • (November 7, 2001). Homosexualidad y esperanza: Declaration de la Associacion Media Catolica, de EEUU [Homosexuality and Hope: Declaration by the Catholic Medical Association (USA)]. http://www.narth.com/docs/eeuu.html [archive]

Staff report (May 12, 1999). The Three Myths About Homosexuality. http://www.narth.com/menus/myths.html NARTH [archive]

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

GLAAD (glaad.org)

Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (therapeuticchoice.com)

Journal of Human Sexuality (journalofhumansexuality.com)

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (narth.com) [archive]

  • Officers
  • narth.com/menus/officers.html [archive]

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

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