Doctor Who Tried to Cure Homosexuality to Speak at Australian Child Sex Abuse Victim Event
By Kate Aubusson
A US clinical psychologist who practised therapies aimed at "curing" homosexuality has been billed as a star speaker at an Australian event hosted by a Jewish advocacy group for child sexual abuse victims. Norman Goldwasser, who applied conversion or reparative therapies to treat same-sex attraction, is the keynote speaker at Tzedek Australia's Melbourne education forum in September. Several survivors of child sexual abuse in the Jewish community, including the founder and former chief executive of Tzedek, have condemned Dr Goldwasser's involvement. Several Tzedek board members have threatened to resign if Dr Goldwasser attends the event. Dr Goldwasser has recently disassociated himself from conversion therapy and the US-based group JONAH, which claimed it could cure homosexuality. In a landmark ruling hailed as a civil rights victory, the organisation, with which Dr Goldwasser was affiliated, was ordered to pay damages to former clients after a Jersey City court deemed its practices fraudulent. "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," Dr Goldwasser wrote in a statement posted on Tzedek's Facebook page. But the clinical psychologist 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 tried to contact Dr Goldwasser for comment on Thursday night. "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," Michael Barnett, the co-convener of Jewish LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocacy group Aleph Melbourne, said. "By engaging with somebody like Norman Goldwasser, Tzedek are irreparably damaging their credibility." Founder of Tzedek and survivor of child sexual abuse Manny Waks 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. "As the founder of Tzedek, it's really disappointing for me to see that we are hurting members of the Jewish LGBTQ community and victims of child sexual abuse in this way. "Here we have an experienced senior therapist making unacceptable remarks not years ago, but months ago, and of all places at an event combating child abuse. "I understand and accept that Dr Goldwasser regrets his past actions, but that doesn't mean he is now in a position to educate in these important matters." Chaim Levin, a plaintiff in the JONAH lawsuit who underwent conversion therapy, said he would resign as a Tzedek board member if the organisation stood by Dr Goldwasser. "I'm deeply disturbed that they are bringing this person as a keynote speaker," Mr Levin said. "I cannot be associated with an organisation that sponsors a man whose signature still exists on a document that justifies and mandates the trauma of conversion therapy. It's wrong for anyone but especially survivors of abuse," he said. Several other US board members have also suggested they would resign in protest. Current Tzedek chief executive Michelle Meyer would not comment on Dr Goldwasser's keynote address other than to say the advocacy group was "considering our position". In a statement posted on Tzedek's Facebook page, the organisation said it had invited Dr Goldwasser to Australia "because of his clinical experience with trauma in sexual abuse". "There is some concern about Dr Goldwasser's therapeutic interventions. "Unfortunately his clinical experience has been marred by lobby
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