A. Dean Byrd
Encyclopedia
Albert Dean Byrd is a former president of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), a research organization that advocates sexual orientation change efforts
(SOCE). He is a psychologist who focuses on SOCE, and has written on the topic. Although raised by a Buddhist
mother and a Baptist
father, Byrd converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is very active in the debate within the LDS church on issues involving homosexuality
.
in psychology
from Brigham Young University
, a post-doctoral degree in Child and Family Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University
and Medical College of Virginia, and a post-doctoral degree in Behavioral Medicine
from Loyola University, Chicago. He also received both an M.P.H. from the University of Utah
, School of Medicine, and an M.B.A. also from the University of Utah
. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine.
He has served as the Director of Clinical Training for LDS Social Services, was a Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University
, and is currently a Clinical Professor at the University of Utah
, School of Medicine, with appointments in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and in Department of Psychiatry, with an adjunct clinical appointment in the Department of Family Studies, also at the University of Utah
. As member of the faculty at the University of Utah
, he lectures training medical students about disparities in health care in the population. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association
, the Utah Psychological Association where he currently serves on the Governing Board, with professional affiliations in the American Orthopsychiatric Association, where he is a fellow, the American Public Health Association
, the American Board of Forensic Examiners and the Prescribing Psychologist Register, a training and credentialing organization for psychologists in psychopharmacology. He is also a former member of the Evergreen Board of Trustees. He is also currently the President of Thrasher Research Fund, a pediatric research granting institution. He was elected in 2007 as the President of NARTH for 2008. Dr. Byrd has had visiting professor appointments in Israel and Poland. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine. He also has training in genetics, biochemistry and neurochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, CA.
He is a well known supporter of conversion therapy, and has authored more than 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed scientific journals, law journals, book chapters, invited commentaries and Opinion
Editorials, many of which address issues of human sexuality. In 2002, he presented a paper which describes a technique called gender-affirmative therapy. He states: "The basic premise of gender-affirmative therapy is that social and emotional variables affect gender identity which, in turn, determines sexual orientation. The work of the therapist is to help people understand their gender development. Subsequently, such individuals are able to make choices that are consistent with their value system. The focus of therapy is to help clients fully develop their masculine or feminine identity". He has written several papers with Joseph Nicolosi
. One of the largest ones was a survey of 882 people who were undergoing therapy, attending ex-gay groups or ex-gay conferences, 22. 9% reported they had not undergone any changes, 42.7% reported some changes, and 34.3% reported much change in sexual orientation. As a group, they reported large reductions in homosexual thoughts and fantasies and improvements in their psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being. He has promoted his ideas on college campuses, in newspapers, and in several books. He was called as a professional witness to testify on behalf of Andrew McClintock, a Christian magistrate who was forced to resign due to his beliefs on homosexual parents. In 2007, he was asked to chair a symposium
at the APA Convention in San Francisco.
organization catering to Latter-day Saints.
He has also given presentations and written several articles for Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research
dealing with homosexuality. He has written critically of No More Goodbyes, written by LDS author Carol Lynn Pearson
, and In Quiet Desperation, a book about an LDS man's efforts to faithfully live the LDS religion while having same-sex attractions. In turn, his critique was criticized by other Mormon counselors, as well as by one of the book's authors, Ty Mansfield.
Sexual orientation change efforts
Sexual orientation change efforts are methods that aim to eliminate a same-sex sexual orientation. They may include behavioral techniques, cognitive behavioral techniques , psychoanalytic techniques, medical approaches, religious and spiritual approaches.The longstanding consensus of the...
(SOCE). He is a psychologist who focuses on SOCE, and has written on the topic. Although raised by a Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
mother and a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
father, Byrd converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is very active in the debate within the LDS church on issues involving homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
Professional life
Dr. Dean Byrd received his Ph.D.Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, a post-doctoral degree in Child and Family Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
and Medical College of Virginia, and a post-doctoral degree in Behavioral Medicine
Behavioral medicine
Behavioral medicine is an interdisciplinary field of medicine concerned with the development and integration of knowledge in the biological, behavioral, psychological, and social sciences relevant to health and illness...
from Loyola University, Chicago. He also received both an M.P.H. from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, School of Medicine, and an M.B.A. also from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine.
He has served as the Director of Clinical Training for LDS Social Services, was a Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and is currently a Clinical Professor at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, School of Medicine, with appointments in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and in Department of Psychiatry, with an adjunct clinical appointment in the Department of Family Studies, also at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. As member of the faculty at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, he lectures training medical students about disparities in health care in the population. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, the Utah Psychological Association where he currently serves on the Governing Board, with professional affiliations in the American Orthopsychiatric Association, where he is a fellow, the American Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
, the American Board of Forensic Examiners and the Prescribing Psychologist Register, a training and credentialing organization for psychologists in psychopharmacology. He is also a former member of the Evergreen Board of Trustees. He is also currently the President of Thrasher Research Fund, a pediatric research granting institution. He was elected in 2007 as the President of NARTH for 2008. Dr. Byrd has had visiting professor appointments in Israel and Poland. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine. He also has training in genetics, biochemistry and neurochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, CA.
He is a well known supporter of conversion therapy, and has authored more than 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed scientific journals, law journals, book chapters, invited commentaries and Opinion
Editorials, many of which address issues of human sexuality. In 2002, he presented a paper which describes a technique called gender-affirmative therapy. He states: "The basic premise of gender-affirmative therapy is that social and emotional variables affect gender identity which, in turn, determines sexual orientation. The work of the therapist is to help people understand their gender development. Subsequently, such individuals are able to make choices that are consistent with their value system. The focus of therapy is to help clients fully develop their masculine or feminine identity". He has written several papers with Joseph Nicolosi
Joseph Nicolosi
Joseph Nicolosi is an American clinical psychologist, founder and director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic, in Encino, California, and a past-president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality...
. One of the largest ones was a survey of 882 people who were undergoing therapy, attending ex-gay groups or ex-gay conferences, 22. 9% reported they had not undergone any changes, 42.7% reported some changes, and 34.3% reported much change in sexual orientation. As a group, they reported large reductions in homosexual thoughts and fantasies and improvements in their psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being. He has promoted his ideas on college campuses, in newspapers, and in several books. He was called as a professional witness to testify on behalf of Andrew McClintock, a Christian magistrate who was forced to resign due to his beliefs on homosexual parents. In 2007, he was asked to chair a symposium
at the APA Convention in San Francisco.
Within the LDS church
The LDS church does not view homosexual attractions as sinful, but does require its members to abstain from homosexual sex. It does not have an official view on the cause of homosexuality. Byrd has been a prominent in defending and explaining the church's position, as well as promoting his own views. He has written four books aimed at LDS audiences and in 1999, he published When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction in the Ensign, an official magazine of the church. It was the first article published in the church's magazine giving advice on how to love people with homosexual inclinations. He has also been a member of the Evergreen Board of Trustees, an ex-gayEx-gay
The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
organization catering to Latter-day Saints.
He has also given presentations and written several articles for Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research
Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research
The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research is a non-profit organization that specializes in Mormon apologetics and responds to criticism of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . FAIR is made up of volunteers who seek to answer questions submitted to its web site...
dealing with homosexuality. He has written critically of No More Goodbyes, written by LDS author Carol Lynn Pearson
Carol Lynn Pearson
Carol Lynn Wright Pearson is an American poet, author, screenwriter, and playwright. Her parents were Lelland Rider Wright and Emeline Sirrine Wright. Her mother died of breast cancer when Carol Lynn was fifteen...
, and In Quiet Desperation, a book about an LDS man's efforts to faithfully live the LDS religion while having same-sex attractions. In turn, his critique was criticized by other Mormon counselors, as well as by one of the book's authors, Ty Mansfield.