"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Friday, August 09, 2013

The Mind Boggles

Forty years later, we're still hearing stories like this:

Earlier this year, Matthew Moore said he started seeing the new doctor who suggested he undergo a complete physical examination.

The tests revealed that he was B-12 deficient, and had high blood pressure and high cholesterol — conditions that Mr Moore joked were “normal for me”.

When Mr Moore, who is openly gay, went back to the Manhattan Beach office to discuss these findings, the nurse gave him the results of his physical.

Among other diagnoses, the doctor listed “homosexual behavior (302.0)”.

“Homosexual behavior” was also listed as a “chronic condition” on Mr Moore’s patient plan.

The American Psychological Association de-listed homosexuality as a pathology in 1973; the American Psychiatric Association followed suit in 1975. It's no longer listed as such in the DSM and hasn't been for decades. Gods know what manual this doctor was using, or how old it is.

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