Interview with Vittorio Lingiardi
by Camilla Strada – From Vanity Fair No. 5, February 4, 2009
republished on Pegaso16 – Arcigay quarterly
«There are people who don't feel in tune with their homosexuality, and it's right that they try to break free. I succeeded by combining Dr. Nicolosi's psychotherapy with Christotherapy: the former helped me overcome the problems related to my relationship with my father, and faith did the rest.
For Luca Di Tolve, 38, a "formerly gay" man now married, reparative therapy worked, and his "healing" is the subject of the song Povia brought to Sanremo.
Vittorio Lingiardi, a psychiatrist, university professor, and author of Citizen Gay (Il Saggiatore), however, has treated several patients who have emerged from "failed repair attempts," and holds a completely different view: these "psychotherapeutic" interventions only cause harm.
Which?
«Sexual orientation can't be changed on demand or through practice. Several studies show that reparative therapies achieve their goal in a very small percentage of cases. And they can have serious side effects such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
Luke, however, achieved what he wanted: conversion. How is this possible?
«"Perhaps Christotherapy works miracles! Jokes aside, it's obvious that changes in a person's sexual interest can occur in their life, but this happens spontaneously, not through reorientation courses that confuse psychology and religion.".
How many people enroll in these courses?
«"It's hard to say. These are private programs, unsupervised by institutions, and unrelated to the practice of psychotherapy.".
Are they scientifically reliable?
«No. I'm not going to say anything about the role faith plays in a person's changes. As for Nicolosi, he's trying to sell his product, but I haven't found any of his work in specialized scientific journals. He's inspired by old, outdated and unproven theories that claim homosexuality stems from a poor relationship with one's parents. The same old stereotype: an overbearing mother and an absent father equals a gay child. Too bad that's not the case: homosexuality is not a psychological trait, nor a pathology.
But there are those who want to overcome their homosexuality.
«"Of course, and we need to listen to and understand their discomfort, which stems from their family and social context, not change their behavior. If society is racist, lightening your skin isn't a good solution.".
