Can sexual orientation be changed?
Richard Cohen claims he has helped thousands of people come out of … homosexuality.
His work has drawn the ire of the LGBT community, and has also been used in Uganda to help justify an anti-homosexual movement that culminated in a legislative effort known as the "Kill The Gays Bill
Cohen appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday to present his side of the story. He distanced himself from the Ugandan legislation, but continued to advocate his position that homosexuals can change their preferences.
“I realize I was taking the risk of helping promote you and the way that you think about these things by putting you on the air,” Maddow said. “But I do think that you’ve actually got blood on your hands.”
Later she added, “Just in case this gets heard in Uganda … Richard Cohen is not licensed by any American or any other licensing body whatsoever.”
During the segment, Maddow read passages from Cohen’s book, Coming Out Straight, including one based on discredited research:
Homosexuals are at least 12 times more likely to molest children than heterosexuals; homosexual teachers are at least 7 times more likely to molest a pupil; homosexual teachers are estimated to have committed at least 25 percent of pupil molestation; 40 percent of molestation assaults were made by those who engage in homosexuality. Cohen acknowledged that he plans on withdrawing the quote from future printings so that it cannot be used against homosexuals in the propaganda war in Uganda. However, he struggled to remember that his book still includes race as a possible factor in homosexuality.
Richard Cohen: Gay-To-Straight ‘Therapist’ Spars With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)