Jewish group for sex abuse victims cancels invitation to doctor who tried to 'cure' gays
The Sydney Morning Herald
Steve Jacobs, Kate Aubusson
14 August 2015
Norman Goldwasser has practised therapies to "cure" homosexuality (photo: YouTube).
An Australian Jewish advocacy group for child sexual abuse victims has cancelled an invitation to a US clinical psychologist who once practised therapies aimed at "curing" homosexuality.
Norman Goldwasser, who applied conversion or reparative therapies to treat same-sex attraction, was to have been the keynote speaker at Tzedek Australia's Melbourne education forum in September.
Several survivors of child sexual abuse in the Jewish community condemned Dr Goldwasser's involvement.
Tzedek Australia's poster for its Community Education Forum (photo: Facebook).
Several Tzedek board members threatened to resign if Dr Goldwasser attended the event.
The founder of Tzedek, Manny Waks, a survivor of child sexual abuse, said he had advised the current chief executive of the organisation not to invite the controversial figure.
"Victims of conversion therapy must be looking at what Tzedek is doing and feeling very upset," Mr Waks said.
Michael Barnett, the co-convener of Jewish LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocacy group Aleph Melbourne, said: "He is claiming that people who have been victims of child sex abuse who may have same sex attraction can have their attraction reversed, which can lead to damaging mental health outcomes, including suicide attempts.
"By engaging with somebody like Norman Goldwasser, Tzedek are irreparably damaging their credibility."
On Friday, the group issued a statement, saying: "Tzedek's mission statement is to support and advocate for victims of sexual abuse in the Jewish community.
"Several months ago, a decision was made by Tzedek to invite Dr Goldwasser to speak at the Jewish Community Education Forum in Melbourne on September 6.
"The decision was made because of his considerable experience dealing with the dynamics of sexual abuse in the Jewish community.
"More recently, we have become aware of other matters and controversies relating to Dr Goldwasser.
"Among other things, we have taken on board concerns raised by the LGBTI [sic] community. As a result we have reviewed the matter and decided that it is no longer appropriate for Dr Goldwasser to speak at the forum.
"We wish to make clear that Tzedek does not in any way endorse or condone what has been described as 'reparative therapy'. Such 'therapy' has been completely discredited.
"Our forum will proceed on September 6 and we encourage all members of the community to attend. "
Dr Goldwasser recently disassociated himself from conversion therapy.
"I have distanced myself from this type of therapy, as well as from those who practise it, as a result of a heightened awareness of the limitations and risks inherently involved in that particular type of therapy," he wrote in a statement posted on Tzedek's Facebook page.
But he is still listed as a signatory of the "Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality", a document endorsed by rabbis, community leaders and mental health professionals that said "same-sex attractions can be modified and healed".
He also stands by treatments aimed at treating "unwanted bisexuality" as a result of child sexual abuse.
Fairfax Media has tried to contact Dr Goldwasser for comment.
Originally published at The Sydney Morning Herald.
The founder of Tzedek, Manny Waks, a survivor of child sexual abuse, said he had advised the current chief executive of the organisation not to invite the controversial figure.
"Victims of conversion therapy must be looking at what Tzedek is doing and feeling very upset," Mr Waks said.
Michael Barnett, the co-convener of Jewish LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocacy group Aleph Melbourne, said: "He is claiming that people who have been victims of child sex abuse who may have same sex attraction can have their attraction reversed, which can lead to damaging mental health outcomes, including suicide attempts.
"By engaging with somebody like Norman Goldwasser, Tzedek are irreparably damaging their credibility."
On Friday, the group issued a statement, saying: "Tzedek's mission statement is to support and advocate for victims of sexual abuse in the Jewish community.
"Several months ago, a decision was made by Tzedek to invite Dr Goldwasser to speak at the Jewish Community Education Forum in Melbourne on September 6.
"The decision was made because of his considerable experience dealing with the dynamics of sexual abuse in the Jewish community.
"More recently, we have become aware of other matters and controversies relating to Dr Goldwasser.
"Among other things, we have taken on board concerns raised by the LGBTI [sic] community. As a result we have reviewed the matter and decided that it is no longer appropriate for Dr Goldwasser to speak at the forum.
"We wish to make clear that Tzedek does not in any way endorse or condone what has been described as 'reparative therapy'. Such 'therapy' has been completely discredited.
"Our forum will proceed on September 6 and we encourage all members of the community to attend. "
Dr Goldwasser recently disassociated himself from conversion therapy.
"I have distanced myself from this type of therapy, as well as from those who practise it, as a result of a heightened awareness of the limitations and risks inherently involved in that particular type of therapy," he wrote in a statement posted on Tzedek's Facebook page.
But he is still listed as a signatory of the "Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality", a document endorsed by rabbis, community leaders and mental health professionals that said "same-sex attractions can be modified and healed".
He also stands by treatments aimed at treating "unwanted bisexuality" as a result of child sexual abuse.
Fairfax Media has tried to contact Dr Goldwasser for comment.
Originally published at The Sydney Morning Herald.