An investigation by “Truth Wins Out” — a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism — has revealed that the clinic of Marcus Bachmann, the husband of presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), practices reparative therapy, a controversial and discredited clinical method designed to “cure” gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Marcus Bachmann
TWO’s findings contradict claims by Mr. Bachmann that he and his clinic, Bachmann & Associates, do not participate in reparative therapy. The story broke today in The Nation magazine where Mariah Blake reported on the results of the investigation.
“The results of our investigation should end all doubt whether Marcus Bachmann’s clinic endorses and practices reparative therapy aimed at changing a gay person’s sexual orientation,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The facts plainly show that Bachmann’s clinic does try to cure gay people and he is being evasive when he claims otherwise.”
“It’s time for Michele and Marcus Bachmann to stop denying, dodging, and stonewalling,” added Truth Wins Out’s Communications and Development Director John Becker. “They owe it to all Americans to provide a full and honest explanation for their embrace of these dangerous and fraudulent practices.”
During a week long Truth Wins Out undercover investigation inside Bachmann & Associates with hidden cameras, Becker, attended five private sessions with Bachmann & Associates counselor Timothy Wiertzema.
The undeniable goal of the sessions was transforming Becker from homosexual to heterosexual. To his credit, the counselor did not claim that change would be instantaneous or even complete. However, he did explicitly promise that sexual conversion could occur as a result of prayer and therapy at the clinic.
During one of the sessions Wiertzema said, “…It’s possible to be totally free of [same-sex attraction]. For sure.” And that, “It’s happened! It really has happened to people.” In the fifth session, Wiertzema said, “…Obviously your goal is not to have any feelings of attraction for men…And I really am going to recommend that we start working on how you can develop your attraction towards women.”
At no time during the therapy was homosexuality portrayed as a natural variation of human sexuality. Instead it was presented as a treatable condition at odds with a normal and healthy sexual orientation.
John M. Becker
Becker was told by Wiertzema that “God designed our eyes
to be attracted to the woman’s body, to be attracted to everything, to be attracted to her breasts.” Furthermore, according to Timothy, “We’re all heterosexuals, but we have different challenges.” Attraction to the same sex “is there,
and it’s real, but at the core value, in terms of how God
created us, we’re all heterosexual.”
Becker was never given nor asked to sign any kind of
informed consent document that disclosed the dangers of
or alternatives to “ex-gay” therapy.
As such, TWO said it believes Bachmann & Associates are practicing unethically, even by the standards of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Such therapy is considered ineffective and potentially harmful by The American Psychological Association, The American Medical Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The American Psychiatric Association.
“What I found was particularly disconcerting given the fact that Marcus Bachmann’s clinic has received significant funding from the State of Minnesota and the federal government,” said Becker.
For sale inside the clinic was Minnesota “ex-gay” minister Janet Boynes’ book Called Out. It was accompanied by a typewritten note featuring Mr. Bachmann’s endorsement: “Janet is a friend. I recommend this book as she speaks to the heart of the matter and gives practical insights of truth to set people free. – Marcus Bachmann, PhD.”
“It appears that the Bachmann family is trying to distance themselves from some of their more extreme beliefs in an attempt to appeal to mainstream Americans,” said TWO’s Besen. “We think it is important that voters have accurate information and we hope our investigation sheds some light on their genuine views.”
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Damned fool should realize that bacon can be cured, and perhaps Bachmann, but gays, not so much. :-)
I love being who I am they can keep their ‘cure’ just sayin…
Cure cancer, not gay.
Romney 2012
Cure Gay? Why? The more gay people the better :)
There is no f cure!!
and he gets government funding for this
This warrants further investigation by the APA and/or whatever licensing board from which he derives the sanction to practice.
If this is the case, the patients who underwent this treatment might want to consult a lawyer regarding a malpractice suit.
Down with these parasites!
This man, and others like him, are dangerous and are causing so much pain. I hope lawyers start going after them soon.
And we are surprised?
The Bachmann position is less extreme than California mandating gay history for minor students. Why? Because taxpayers are paying for those gay history lessons. A recent study showed one-third of American high school graduates does not know what country the U.S. declared independence from, but California is going to take time away from learning American history to promote a politically correct cause. As far as the government funds the Bachmann clinic receives, my hunch has it that none are used for the therapy mentioned in the article. What people choose to do with their private money is their own business, no matter how strange, unless the activities are criminal.
Can one of our LGBTQ orgs issue a lawsuit? If being gay is now understood to be inherent isn’t this kind of therapy a blatant act of hatred? If a person can be found who has suffered extreme trauma as a result of this quackery it should be grounds to sue on.
I bet he comes out of the closet in a big way like every other Gay Hater in the Party
are you effing serious? People still buy into that propaganda?
What if they “catch” Gay by being so close to them???? Just saying if you can cure it you can catch it right?????
wow
Lets really enforce Sepration of Church and State
is there a cure for straight people too then lol
Is this guy for real this fucker needs to get a reality check. Gay is awesome! Cure cancer, ALS, diabetes, and other diseases that kill people….. Loser
shouldn’t this be “wants to cure” not “cures”…I don’t think he can cure anything.
We need a vaccine to protect us from HIM!!!!
The gay history you’re talking about IS American history.
Oops, my previous comment was directed @Larry Daniels.
Ha ha dumbass!
Once a man has tasted the other hole,there is no cure,which is why Islam kills queers
Yeah, well, good luck with that…
I’ll be happy when these fucking morons realize that being gay is NOT a choice. It’s NOT a disease. All this fucking nonsense should’ve ended years ago but no, there are fucking idiots that still think that the past is today when the past is the past. It’s never coming back. People are starting to see that they’re wrong, now it’s time for Michele Bachmann and those other fucking idiots to see the same thing.
What if people want therapy to be set free? Why would they stay at the clinic otherwise? Is this forced therapy or couldn’t they just leave after the first session if they didn’t like it.
Seems to me that some people don’t want to be gay.
There is a choice, it is a disease!
I saw Marcus Bachman on TV and heard him speak. I could have sworn that HE was gay. Maybe that explains his obsession with gays. I will say he looks like a big closet queen and my “gaydar” went off big time. Does anyone else have that feeling?
Personally, I think he and his wife are dangerous.
What an example you are! If you are the fruit of Islam then I don’t want it.
Stephen,
Just because you are uncomfortable with your Sexual Orientation doesn’t mean you can change it. The problem is that these “experts” are giving false hope to people who should really learn to love and accept themselves for who they are. That borders on malpractice.
Being gay is not a diesease. It is not an illness. It is not a choice. It is a normal variant of nature that exists throughout the animal kingdom. It is how people are born or hardwired in most cases, although I do think sexuality can be influenced by environmental factors and can be somewhat fluid. A large majority of people identify as bisexual, although many will not openly admit it.
Gender identity is probably much less influence by external factors and is typically hardwired from birth. People can repress or hide their Sexuality and true Gender Identity in order to fit in and be accepted but that typically leads to unhappiness and a sense of living a lie. The best “cure” for GLBT folks is to learn to accept their uniqueness.
I’m sure that Marcus Bachmann quack knows all about homosexuality.
Just like Dr. Reker.
Nicole H,
So basically we could draw a parallel between people that are hardwired to be gay and maybe people that are hardwired to be mass murderers? and as such, they should embrace who they are? (I don’t believe they are hardwired)
Your logic could fit many different behaviors that are considered to be intolerable. Where’s the proof that they were hardwired that way? Oh wait, there isn’t any. Once again, science has tried but can’t explain something.
If you believe in evolution (which I don’t), then why can’t gays reproduce? They have been around a really long time. The answer, that’s not the way we were created.
As a side note, I’m not angry at gay’s or anyone that supports them. I’m frustrated with the thought that we have to accept it, support it, and people are being convinced to live with it when the contradicting evidence is right in front of everyone.
Mr. Bachmann does NOT have a license to practice Psychology, do counseling, or clinical therapy, in the State of Minnesota. Also, he cannot participate in the supervision of any of his staff members who are counseling clients. If he has a congregation, he can do “spiritual counseling,” but that is NOT what his own website purports he does.
His company also has received over $160,000 in government subsidies, in support of their destructive brain-washing services.