View source for Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality

{{Short description|Coalition of ex-gay organizations}}
'''Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality''' ('''PATH''') is a coalition of groups that purport to help "people with unwanted [[same-sex attraction]]s (SSA) realize their personal goals for change—whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or woman."<ref name=index>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pathinfo.org/index.html |title={title} |access-date=2018-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121181657/http://www.pathinfo.org/index.html |archive-date=2016-11-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> The predominantly [[ex-gay]] member groups promote the "right to decide whether to seek counseling or therapy" and [[abstinence]]. The coalition lists studies on [[reparative therapy]] and links to organizations that work with people who have unwanted same-sex attractions.

==Criticism==
A number of professional and activist organizations sharply disagree with PATH goals.{{cn|date=September 2023}} According to [[PFLAG]], PATH is an anti-equality organization that "pursues discredited and profoundly damaging reparative therapy, as evidenced by the company the organization keeps."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pflag.org/antilgbtq |title=Anti-Equality Organizations |date=22 April 2016 |access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> Most mental health professionals and the [[American Psychological Association]] consider reparative therapy discredited.<ref>{{citation |last=Yoshino |first=Kenji |title=Covering |year=2002 |journal=Yale Law Journal |volume=111 |issue=4 |pages=769–939 |url=http://www.yalelawjournal.org/article/covering|doi=10.2307/797566 |jstor=797566 }}</ref>

==Member organizations==
In July 2003, various organizations united to form PATH.<ref>Stephen Hunt: ''Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities'', Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009, {{ISBN|0-7546-7624-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7546-7624-9}}, p. 12.</ref>  As of June 2014, PATH has 26 partner organizations:<ref name="index" />
# [[American College of Pediatricians]]
# [[Anglican Mainstream]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]])
# Core ([[Christianity|Christian]], [[Northern Ireland]])
# [[Courage International]] ([[Catholic Church|Catholic]])
# [[Family Watch International]]
# [[Reichenberg Fellowship#German Institute for Youth and Society|German Institute for Youth and Society]]
# Help 4 Families ([[gender identity]] issues)
# [[Homosexuals Anonymous]] (Christian)
# [[Richard A. Cohen#International Healing Foundation / Positive Approaches to Healthy Sexuality|International Healing Foundation]]
# International Institute of Reorientation Therapies
# Jason (Christian)
# [[JONAH|Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing]] (JONAH)
# Jonah Institute of Gender Affirmation
# [[National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality]] (NARTH)
# North Star ([[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saints]])
# [[OneByOne]] ([[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)|Presbyterian]])
# Parakaleo (Christian, UK, gender identity issues)
# [[Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays]] (PFOX)
# [[Brothers on a Road Less Traveled]] (formerly People Can Change)
# Powerful Change Ministry Group (Christian, [[African-American]])
# Renacer ([[Mexico]])
# Transforming Congregations ([[United Methodist Church|Methodist]])
# True Freedom Trust (United Kingdom, Christian)
# VenSer (Mexico, Christian)
# Voices of Change
# [[Joel 2:25 International]]

[[Exodus International]] belonged to the initial members, but left in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2007/04/09/exodus-international-dropping-membership-in-path/ |title=Exodus International dropping membership in PATH |last1=Throckmorton |first1=Morton |authorlink=Warren Throckmorton |date=9 April 2007 |work=[[Patheos]] |accessdate=14 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220114043/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2007/04/09/exodus-international-dropping-membership-in-path/ |archive-date=2014-12-20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Human sexuality}}
*[[Ex-gay movement]]
*[[Ex-ex-gay]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.pathinfo.org Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality], Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality}}
[[Category:Organizations in the ex-gay movement]]