Charles W. Socarides, M.D. (1922 - 2005)

The busy-ness of the holidays has made it easy to miss the passing of noted anti-gay psychoanalyst Charles Socarides.  He was 83 and died on Christmas Day.  The author of books with titles like Homosexuality: A Freedom Too Far, Socarides devoted his professional life to keeping alive the days when psychiatry preyed on the unhappiness of GLBT clients by offering the promise of heterosexuality, if only queer people would stay in analysis long enough.  It was a great racket for shrinks; since gay people aren't sick, they can't get well.  Socarides claimed a "success" rate of about 35%, just high enough to guarantee that our people furnished a very good livelihood for the docs.

Socarides claimed that homosexuality was caused by castraing, angry mothers and cold, distant fathers.  This helped maintain great anxiety among the parents of GLBT folks, since the theory made them responsible for the gayness of their kids.  In an irony shared by many right-wing politicians, Socarides' own son, Richard, is gay -- and was President Clinton's liaison to the GLBT community.

Socarides' work helped make psychoanalysis a sure laugh-line for queer audiences in plays like Angels in America.  While his work lives on in the ex-gay ministries of the religious right, his views were rejected years ago by the vast majority of his professional peers.

Comments

[Robert Remillard]

As a practicing therapist, one who is intellectually devoted to truth, I would like to dismiss Charles Socarides's work and writings, however I'm not sure one can. An understanding of the earliest experiences and how they impact one's development is not well understood by the general public. The pre-Oedipal stage is very powerful and the unconscious resistances to its exploration equally powerful. I don't share Charles Socarides concern of the impact of
homosexual agendas on American culture. I do share his concern for the suffering of all individuals who are caught up in the repetition
of unconscious acting out of early conflicts.

[Jacqueline]

I don't think any of you understand I love him. He was my father and he was the best man I ever knew. I'm not saying this because he was my father. I'm saying this from one's point of view. His work will live of for forever.

[Dr Alferd Sims]

qhote from above 'article' :

"Socarides' work helped make psychoanalysis a sure laugh-line for queer audiences in plays like Angels in America. While his work lives on in the ex-gay ministries of the religious right, his views were rejected years ago by the vast majority of his professional peers."

This is nonesense there are thousands of mental health professionals (and I am one) who know that the APA's ruling had nothing to do with science and who still understand that homosexuality is a pyscho-sexual disorder. But gays being brainwashed and hostile have managed to intimidate media and others to see their 'side'. Even when voters vote against something like samesex marriage gays will be organized to violently protest it as is being done currently in california for prop 8 currently.

Im sure pro gays and gays will read this and say some evil stuff in response but I point out that only makes my point that they (you)
are in a mental distress.

[TomInAZ]

"Im sure pro gays and gays will read this and say some evil stuff in response but I point out that only makes my point that they (you)
are in a mental distress."

Wow. That's some rigorous empiricism on display there Dr. Sims.

Here's my "evil" comment: why was Dr. Socarides son gay? Until you can answer that question in a way that stands up to scientific and medical scrutiny your position is just another prejudice, however well-intentioned you might believe it to be.

BTW, what early childhood trauma makes a person a bigot, Dr. Sims?

[fcwvroqk mvtukeo]

qfwo rvqgm etsx nrzmypswc nbuisfcj qpejzmvl wezrnulq

[Brenda]

Charles W. Socarides, M.D. is one very sick person. He is also a total idiot and no Christian.

He is a man of hate like Falwell and Pat Robertson and he will never go to Heaven.