Closed Case!

Title: Case Closed! Responding to Psychological Arguments Against Gay People
Author: Robert Minor
Publisher: The Fairness Project, Kansas City
Year: 2002
Available: The Fairness Project

Robert Minor is a prolific, and insightful author. When you read his books, be prepared to be challenged. He authored the books Scared Straight, Gay and Healthy in a Sick Society, and When Religion is an Addiction. Minor wrote a series of concise and readable booklets for The Fairness Project. Case Closed! is one of The Fairness Project Series booklets.

Robert Minor notes that people who are not prepared to do the hard work required to understand the source of their strong dislike of gay people tend to look for religious and scientific support for their prejudices and hatred. He makes a very good point. Delving into the familial, societal and religious factors that caused such deeply held hatred and dislike is taxing, and, at times, scary work.

This booklet quotes information from the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Council on Child and Adolescent Health, the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association that support the position that homosexuality is not a mental illness, that mental illness is not associated with mental illnesses and that mental health professionals should not attempt to change the sexual orientation of their clients. Minor makes the point that discrimination against gay people can cause psychological problems. Case Closed! discusses the controversial case of ex-gays (gay people who claim they have become straight).

Robert Minor cautions against getting into psychological arguments with people. He makes the valid point that answers to the psychological arguments used against homosexuals are easy to obtain. There is little need to become the defender of the gay community. We have the right to indicate we disagree with the anti-gay psychology and then to walk away from the discussion.

Case Closed! is an excellent booklet. There is a good balance between providing information to show that mental health professionals do not consider homosexuality to be an illness and providing practical advice that can help prevent gay people from getting caught up in potentially painful and damaging arguments about psychology. This book should be in the resource library of every gay community center, of every affirming church and every mental health professional.