Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Psychological Association of the Philippines: "Being Gay is NOT a disease. It's NOT a disorder."

Image courtesy of www.pap.org.ph

Following is the statement of the Psychological Association of the Philippines on Tintin Bersola-Babao's ‘Being Gay' article published by The Philippine Star:

The Psychological Association of the Philippines reaffirms its position against LGBT discrimination.

In response to concerns from the public about a Philippine Star article dated March 11, 2013 entitled “Being Gay” by Tintin Bersola Babao and featuring Dr. Camille Garcia, the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) wishes to reaffirm its position borne from scientific knowledge that being gay is not a disease or disorder. Like other national organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the British Psychological Society, and the Hong Kong Psychological Society, among many others, the PAP recognizes that there is no inherent illness or pathology behind same-gender sexual orientations. In fact, it has been 40 years since homosexuality was taken out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders.

The PAP enjoins Filipino psychologists to stand by their professional and ethical commitments to affirm the rights and wellbeing of all individuals. Its position paper on Non-Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression reads, “The PAP Code of Ethics (2010) is clear in its stance against discrimination. Filipino psychologists are called upon to recognize the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings; and to respect the diversity among persons and peoples. This means that Filipino psychologists should not discriminate against or demean persons based on actual or perceived differences in characteristics including gender identity and sexual orientation.”

It continues, “Lesbians, Gay and Bisexuals and Transgendered individuals confront social pressures to hide, suppress or even attempt to change their identities and expressions as conditions for their social acceptance and enjoyment of rights…. This anti-LGBT prejudice and discrimination tend to be based on a rhetoric of moral condemnation and are fueled by ignorance or unfounded beliefs associating these gender expressions and sexual orientations with psychopathology or maladjustment.”

Says PAP President Dr. Gina Hechanova, "The article presents a view of homosexuality that is clearly misinformed. We wish to invite the public to read more appropriate responses to the same questions posed in the article of Ms. Bersola-Babao. We also encourage media practitioners who wish to get professional psychological advice to see the list of certified psychologists in the PAP website (www.pap.org.ph)."

68 comments:

  1. Dr. Carmela Whatever should heed the call of her group of colleagues who are experts in the Psychological field rather than stating her own individual opinion as medical truth.

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    1. ^^ Oops, it Camille pala. See? I didn't even get her name right because she's virtually unknown.

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    2. sikat siya kesa sa PAP! Palagi siyang naTV at PAP ay hindi kilala!

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  2. Searched for Dr. Whatever's name in the PAP website and she's not in it. Meaning, she's not a certified psych doctor who can give professional advice regarding LGBT issues, as what PAP said in the press release.

    Next time, Mrs. Babao, get doctors who are known to have dealt with LGBT issues in a professional way. Hindi yung psych na bibigay ng opinion and will defend her right to free speech. Duh, of course since she's a psych doctor, people will adhere to whatever dis- and misinformation she has spewed.

    If you wanna salvage your career, get another doctor on your show and redo the LGBT talk.

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    1. Buti nga naglabas ng statement ang PAP. Ito kasing si Dr. Garcia, ginamit ang title nya bilang psychologist para iexpress ang kanyang PERSONAL OPINION bilang medical truth. Ito namang si Tintin, parang hindi journalist, hindi na niresearch, basta na lang tinanggap porket pareho sila ng personal beliefs.

      Paano na lang kung may closeted gay na confused kaya lumapit sa isang therapist na gaya ni Dr. Garcia? Sa halip na mawala ang mga psychological issues nya eh lalo syang magkakaroon ng problema. At yung parents ng mga gay, feeling disappointed sila kasi tingin nila sa mga anak nila ay defective. Tsk tsk.

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    2. Why should she consult real doctors? Homosexuality is not a disease nga e, therefore, there is no need for a cure! A doctor or a psychologist should never have been consulted to shed light on gay issues in the first place. It is so degrading for gays that a parent would need the advice of a medical professional on how to address the homosexual tendencies of a child!

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    3. tintin should have presented different point of views and let the audiences draw their own conclusions.

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    4. 3:41 some homsexuals are consulting psychologist mainly because of depression. for the fact that homosexuals are condemn in a way. Especially, closeted case. And also they may also fear or being alone.

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    5. I agree Anon 12:24PM, but depression is a disorder/condition, homosexuality is not, there are pills and cures to depression, its something that can be prevented and managed din! Sana lang di niya tinrato ang homosexuality like it is a disease that parents and psychologists can prevent. Kasi nakaka-INSULTO yun.

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  3. I find Tin Bersola's article just as st*pid as Lea Salonga's opinion. OB won't be proud. :D

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    1. pakiexplain naman ang point mo malay mo may matutunan sila sau. pero halatang may grudge c lea. Dati na kasing may academic rivalry ang dalawang yan. veledictorian si tintin at di matanggap ni lea yun. pansinin mo comment ni lea hindi sya sa issue nakatutok kundi dun sa writer. ang substance 'te di ko masight! di ba dapat ang issue ang icredit or idiscredit hindi yung writer? naman lea para namang di mo alam ang 'falacy of ad hominem'.

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    2. no, no, no! the problem here is the writer, Tintin Bersola. Or put that: the problem is Bersola thinks she can also write. The problem is Bersola is incompetent as a writer that's why she fell for the ignorant opinion of that doctor. and Bersola, the gall of this pretentious girl, so quickly washed her hands, saying she was simply quoting the "pov" of the doctor -- dito pa lang alam na natin she is irresponsible and incompetent. darling, you should have the discrimination in choosing your sources. you don't know that, you stop writing. you're dangerous.

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    3. Sige ikaw na lang magsulat kasi ang galing galing mong manglait! Choose your sources and start writing then!

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    4. bersola is that you? cige ha, ako na lang ang magsusulat and I assure you I will be very responsible where you were not. Stop writing girl and spare us your insensitivity

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    5. Promise ha. SIgurado akong walang kang maisusulat! Puros ka lang labels! Pa spare spare ka pa! Just write! Maski sa Tiktik!

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  4. OMG! Such a strong statement from the PAP. Short of saying that Dr. Garcia is incompetent. Scary, is this the end of Dr. Camille Garcia's career/profession?

    Tintin Bersola Babao, this is a lesson for you as well. Get competent resource persons.

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    1. Exactly te! Research the credentials of your guests and see if they have dealt the issues that are relevant to your topic. Hindi yung kung sinong kakilala ni this and that will be invited for the sake of having a TV appearance.

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    2. Incompetent doctor meets incompetent writer: kahit anong research pa ang gawin, if you are insensitive, ganito at ganito pa rin ang lalabas. i say stop writing, Bersola, you are not just insensitive you are incompetent!!!

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    3. Both Garcia and Babao are incompetent.

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    4. and you are competent? Show your competence then! Stop labelling.. offer something competent!

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    5. that's the competent something I offer, to tell Bersola she is incompetent so she stops wasting precious print space by sparing us her pretentions to being a writer

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    6. Thats not competence! Thats bashing!

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    7. Now, that's an competent answer, Bersola

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    8. SO competent sala siya! VEry positive!

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  5. "The article presents a view of homosexuality that is clearly misinformed"

    Ayan ha! PAP na maysabi nyan. eh kayong mga nagsasabi na walang masama sa article clearly is lacking in either
    a. intelligence
    b. comprehension
    c. all of the above

    nuff said.

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    1. Agree. Mahirap kasi intindihin yata ang article kaya di nila ma-gets ang points na sinabi ni TinTin, pati ng "doktora" na hindi tama.

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    2. TO AnonymousMarch 14, 2013 at 1:43 AM.. at ikaw ang magaling dahil gusto mong makita maski wala naman duon! super taas ng imagination/fantasy IQ mo siguro naman! Tama na ang labels (pumatol tuloy ako sa iyo!)

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  6. Ano, tameme yung mga nagsasabi kahapon na they see nothing wrong in Tintin B's article and panay ang pitnas kay Lea Salonga. Please learn how to read well. Nakikita lang niyo ang gusto niyong makita withouth understanding what the article is really about. Tse!

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    1. not yet.. porket ba may organization, sila na nangingibabaw.. how about sharing their experiences on how they dealt with their child, that would be much helpful..

      and i am not against any gay person or any person, just please stop exchanging sexual partners.. this lifesytle of the devil

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    2. "...just please stop exchanging sexual partners.." Anonymous 11:17, sabihin mo rin yan sa mga straight nag-eexchange partners. Dami sila. :)

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    3. May point naman si 11:17 AM kasi sa totoo lang majority ng may AIDS dito sa Pilipinas ay vakler. Siguro mas laganap talaga sa male homosexuals ang ganyang behavior.

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  7. wala naman kasi sa article ni bersola na nabanggit na disease ang pagiging gay no. so hindi pala psychologist si dr. garcia. next time mag-research muna team/staff ng isang show bago kumuha ng guest. i-check kung tama yung claim ng isang tao na kung ano siya.

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    1. so? e kahit hindi niya binangit na disease ang homosexuality, the fact that she used the expertise kuno of a psychologist e parang pinaramdam na niya na it is a disease nga! Something na pwede i-correct at maiayos!

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    2. mas okay sana if the 'gay' issue was tackled in the context of 'culture'. ke sakit sya or hindi ang issue ay bakit hindi tanggap ng lipunan? pag nasagot natin yan mas maintindihan natin kung bakit ganun ang opinion ni ms bersola at kung bakit iba naman ang pananaw ng iba. kc baka ang lipunan ang may pagkukulang hindi c ms bersola. remember, ang biases natin ay produkto ng culture.

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  8. Tin Tin Bersola as usual is trying to overreach herself, straying into an area she is ignorant about: writing, and now writing about parenting and homosexuality. I've never read something as insensitive as what she has done. You are OFFENSIVE, Bersola! Stay at home and keep your thoughts to yourself. I pray your son turns our a homosexual so you'd know how to feels to read what you wrote.

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    1. laki ng galit mo at dinamay talaga ang bata.

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    2. napaka-immature naman na idamay nga yung anak nya.

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    3. immature? laki ng galit? that's the only way for bersola to realize being gay is NOT as odious as she has made it appear, bringing in that incompetent doctor to spread their ignorance and insensitivity. really now.

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    4. YOUR PRAYER... shows your CONDEMNATION TO HOMOSEXUALS because you use it as a CURSE! and you claim to be SENSITIVE?

      AnonymousMarch 14, 2013 at 3:10 AM
      Tin Tin Bersola as usual is trying to overreach herself, straying into an area she is ignorant about: writing, and now writing about parenting and homosexuality. I've never read something as insensitive as what she has done. You are OFFENSIVE, Bersola! Stay at home and keep your thoughts to yourself. I pray your son turns our a homosexual so you'd know how to feels to read what you wrote.

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    5. YES, you are more OFFENSIVE in using homosexual as a karma for your prayer! It shows your deeply rooted negative attitude towards homosexuality and thats you!

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    6. No, Bersola is OFFENSIVE in her incompetence. She should stop writng

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    7. Let people write. Let people share their opinions. Its up to us to read it or not! Truth is not a monopoly of one side.. there are so many sides to an issue.

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    8. and the truth is, Bersola in this article simply displayed her incompetence and insensitivity. Column writing is not for her

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  9. Fp we all know you're gay and you can speak
    About being gay but tintin bersola's article was about her views on how to prevent a child from being gay. Obviously straight people do NOT want their kids to be gay kung maiiwasan kung hindi i aaccept pa din daw naman, those were reasonable and preventive steps lang. Parents in the end play a big role on their kids' views. So please for gays and lesbians let the heterosexuals speak out! You should respect others if you want to be respected.

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    1. ok ka lang Anon 4:23AM? You are talking about respect? e walang pagkakaiba ang article na yan sa mga consultations sa Doctors kung paano magkakaroon ng anak na lalaki imbes na babae! nasaan ang respect dun? kung babae ka, di ka ba maooffend kung ang dalawang magulang especially ang isang tatay e mas magugustuhan niya ang anak na lalaki kesa sa babae? di ba napaka discriminating at sexist nun? ipinapamukha lang na there really is no equality pagdating sa genders! Ano ngayun mararamdaman mo bilang babae na may mga magulang na mas pipiliin pang magkaroon ng anak na lalaki, kahit pa bakla basta magmamana lang ng apelyido nila kesa mga babae na magaasawa lang daw? di ba napaka dark ages ng pagiisip na ganun at parang iyan lang ang pinopromote ng article na yan! Kung babae ka, you of all people should relate to the stand of people from the LGBT community dahil parang kelan lang naman na iyan ang pinaglalaban ng mga kababaihan noon na sinusuportahan din ng karamihan sa mga bakla! mag-isip isip kasi muna!

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    2. gawin kayang official maging apat na ang category sa Sex konting prefix lang naman: Male, Female, Bakamale, Bakafemale. Ito ay pagkilala sa human rights ng mga beyond M and F. ang di magbigay ng true information sa mga legal documents ay kakasuhan ng perjury. ang babatikos ay kakasuhan ng gender discrimination. parati nating sinasabi respeto, respeto... puwes, the ultimate respect can be translated into law. but prior to this dami pa dapat gawin like awareness raising and advocacy work para sa mga mambabatas at public isama na din ang religious organizations. alam naman natin na madami dyan na gusto rin namang marecognize. pustahan tau wala ni isa mang mambabatas ang magsulong ng batas to extend the gender category. di lang nila alam siguradong papatok ang Bill dahil dami nilang mga beyonce na boboto para maging batas ang Bill. the challenge is to draft the bill first. sino kayang may ba_ag or walang ba_ag ang maninindigan for the sake of their own human rights? Kudos na lang ...manawari...

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    3. Kung ayaw ng tatay na babae ang naging anak niya what can he do? He has to accept that this is NATURE but to NURTURE the child to be gay or lesbian is also what the article of tin tin Bersola is about! And dami niyo reklamo eh kung choice niya yun to raise her child as a straight na sa totoo lang is normal for any parent! And oo babae ako and last time I checked to know the sex of a person is through the organs eh dalawa lang naman ang organs di ba so male and female lang dapat pag naglagay ka pa ng gay, lesbian abay papano naman ang ang transgender, bisexual etc.. Wala nang katapusan. Just accept who you are and again respect yourself so you can respect others!

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    4. YES, choice ng isang magulang kung ano pamamaraan sa tingin niya tama para mapalaki ang anak! Hwag ninyong pakialamanan ang strategy ng mga parents! Hindi kayo ang mananagot kungdi ang magulang! As if na mas marunong kayo sa kanila! Pwede ba, tama na ang pagmamarunong!

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  10. Magbuhat ng sariling bangko.....

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  11. Babao and Garcia are both incompetent and ignorant women with outdated concepts about homosexuality. There ideas are like from the sixties.

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  12. ang gist ng article ni tintin ay pagmamahal niya bilang INA sa kaniyang anak regardless of the child's sexual preference when time comes. gagawin ng magulang ang lahat para sa ikabubuti ng kaniyang anak. mahirap bang intindihin yun? *isa akong ina

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    1. PAP's stand is to clarify that being gay is not a disease nor a disorder which was what Babao and Garcia insinuated when they mis-inform people that gayness can be "prevented" or "cured" by having a male influence in the family. Babao is a journalist who should have been responsible enough to complete her information that PAP's stand is this but that she doesn't t adhere to their views and believe otherwise - that it can be prevented thus she still resort to this and that. More so with Garcia na pinalabas na as medical truth yung opinion nya na pinagbasehan naman ni Babao to express her own opinion on the matter. If the kid is gay, kahit anong enviroment sya lumaki, gay pa rin yun. Sometimes people think that when people "hide" it, they are cured. They're not. They just become miserable to please the society they are living in. Perfect example nga si BB Gandanghari, very masculine household ang Padilla residence, but look what happened to him. No amount of prevention will "cure" your child if he/she is gay. You'll just confuse him/her more that he/she is "sick" and "defective" if you try to "correct" him when he/she shows early sign.

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  13. Oh God why everyone is joining this bandwagon??? pati ba naman yang association na yan he nakikisawsaw sa isyu??? napaka pathetic! its Tintins's point of view end of story! parang horoscope lang yan! pag di tatungkol sayo ang nakalagay baka para sa iba yun! yung mga sinabi nya it might now sit well sa iba but for the other parents who are seeing her point maybe helpful for them! anu ba yan daming sensitive at opinionated ako nga na baklang bakla wala akong nakitang masama o mali sa article eh bakit yung mga nagmamalinis kuno na kung magreact kala mo napalakol ang mga hitad!

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    1. Excuse me! Dr. Whatever stated her "opinion" that homosexuality should be discouraged and its tendencies be "arrested" when they start to manifest. Of course, since Psych doctor siya papaniwalaan siya ng tao on a medical point of view. Si Tintin naman, she agreed and goes on saying na mamahalin niya ang anak niya kahit maging ano man ito pero she's very proud na "her son is very much male etc. etc." Self-contradictory and very hypocritical!

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    2. EXCUSE ME? Self-contradictory and very hypocritical! Owws talaga? bakit may iba kang meaning for her statements.. at hindi mo lang tignan na hindi contradictory at hypocritical?

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    3. PAP joining the bandwagon? YES, para sumikat. Statement lang yan ng presidente nila at does not reflect the opinions of the organization! Not because it is supported by an organization ay tama na! An opinion of an organization is an opinion and it does not mean it is the TRUTH! kaya respect the opinion of others also! Hindi naman sila tinatanong ni Bersona. Si Dr Garcia ang tinanong!

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    4. a professional organization is important in every field. saka hindi na siya opinyon kasi kinuha si dr. camille for the reason that she was deemed as an expert in the matter. what she said, did not reveal that she is competent enough to discuss the matter.

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  14. this debate will go nowhere.. if gay people, or any person, just show class by not looking like haunting for sex everytime, then you will be much respected.. i think the church just cant express it clearly.. its not really the gay they are against, but the lifestyle of most gays..

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    1. The debate will really go nowhere kung hahanapan mo lang ng butas ang mga bakla, stereotype lang yang binanggit mo e, kung tutuusin mas madaming straight ang manyak at rapist. At ano ba sa tingin mo ang lifestyle ng gays? yung napapanood mo sa sine? Duh! Kung respect rin lang di hamak na mas madaming bakla ang mas karesperespeto kesa sa mga straight, mas madaming baklang matatalino at achievers! Alexander the Great, Da Vinci, Abe Lincoln, Michelangelo, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, King Edward II, just to name a few, ang dami kasing great men in history ang bakla o may pagkabakla e...

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    2. With all due respect, gays are not the only ones who have that kind of lifestyle - hunting for sex everytime. By the way, I don't know if one can "haunt" for sex as you said in your comment - multong bakla ba iniisip mo? Many straight people have active and careless sex lives, those who prowl for willing partners regularly. It's not a gay thing, it's a human thing - we're the only animal who has sex for reasons beyond reproduction. The church has expressed it clearly too - being gay is not a sin, it's having sex with the same sex they declare to be a sin. Just as they declare having sex outside of marriage is a sin - this hasn't changed and most likely it never will. The debate will go nowhere because many - such as your good self - remain ignorant.

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    3. Nagbabasa ka ba, ang sabi nga e if gay people, or any person, meaning hindi lang mga bakla

      "Hahanapan ng butas ang mga bakla" hehe you sound so gay

      Seriously, what im trying to say is you are not a disease or a disorder, its the lifestyle of most of you.. Ayan a most of you.. So pwedeng di ka kasali

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    4. "If gay people or any person, meaning hindi lang mga bakla," so Anon 12:21 AM, what exactly is your point then? You are giving a general assumption na ganun ang mga gays kaya di nirerespeto, which sinagot ko sa comment ko na mali, cause its only a stereotype dahil nga mas maraming straight guys ang ganun. Ikaw ang hindi nagbabasa e. You will never win a debate kung ikaw mismo ang magkocontradict sa sinasabi mo.

      And yes, I am gay, so? It doesn't make me less of a person than you are. In fact, based lang dito, I can confidently say that I am more intellectually advanced than you(probably stronger and better looking than you are too but that's beside the point).

      And again about this "lifestyle of most of us" na you are referring to, what lifestyle ba are you talking about? kasi as far as I know, magkakaiba ang lifestyle ng bawat tao, bakla, tomboy, lalaki, babae, lahat tayo may distinction in the way we live our lives! And just so you know, there's no such thing as a gay lifestyle na tulad ng napapanood mo sa sine o sa mga teleserye. Kaya nga it is ALWAYS WRONG to generalize. Ok?

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    5. Anon 10:59, I respect your opinion and mostly agree with you. Its just that humans are not the only animal who has sex without the intention to reproduce, actually, all animal species have sex that is not intended for reproduction. When we say that it is a natural instinct of animals to reproduce, it could simply be pleasure(orgasm) that drives them to do it. Di naman sila aware na ang pakikipagsex would lead to having off-springs, tayo lang as humans ang nag-assume nun.

      And also, about 1500 of animal species are having same sex activities too(both male & female). And two of these species are dolphins and the bonobo monkeys, two animals that are considered as most intelligent. so ano ang punto nito? Well this is not to imply that homosexuality should be considered as moral or ethical since it is observed in nature but merely to say that these observations of homosexual practice on animals show that it is neither a choice nor a decision. If anything, it also show that it could be inherent in all of us. Whether thru environment, influence or whatever unknown factor, all of us might have THE SUSCEPTIBILITY to be gay. So sa mga hindi pa, matuto kayo umintindi, dahil baka bukas o sa makalawa, ang practice na pinandidirihan nyo e gagawin nyo rin pala, like some gays na kilala ko.

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  15. Miyembro yata itong si Dr. Garcia ng Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, Inc. May sort of rivalry kasi between the two orgs. Pero I believe in what PAP has said about homosexuality.

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  16. sa totoo lang, mahirap mabuhay bilang tao. kahit ano gender mo. be it straight guy, girl, gay and lesbian. Unfair na ilabel nila na immoral ang mga bakla dahil sa mga kilos or gawain or lifestyle nila. kahit anong gender mo, you can commit a sexually immoral act. lalo na pag isasama mo na religion mo. tulad ng premarital sex between boy and girl. pero bakit pag sex between 2 boys masama, nakak diri etc. unfair..

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  17. tintin bersola connected with tv5. it is the news and current affairs department where she belongs that has the reputation of feeding purported information to masa. our company was once a victim of their wrong info. we did nothing. our customers still believe in us that is why our company decided to do nothing. it is beyond belief that she carried that stupid attitude of her mother station outside the building.

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  18. Naku this post must have kept Bersola busy. Akalain nyong sinagot niya lahat na nega comments sa kanya. There, you found your true calling, Bersola: be a troll and answer blog comments.

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