Hello Everyone,

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For past issues of Kort's Korner go to the archives at
http://casts.webvalence.com/sites/KortsKorner/

IN THIS ISSUE OF KORT'S KORNER:

1. News from Joe Kort & Associates
2. Queer Ear for the Straight Clinician: Ex-Gay Marks the G-Spot
3. Book Review: Wayne Besen's, Bashing Back
4. Resources and Videos on Ex-Gays
5. Foriegn Translations of Joe's first book
6. Joe's Book Updates

Psychotherapy Services

Telephone Coaching and Consultation

Clinical Consulting and Supervision Services for Psychotherapists

Frequently Asked Questions

Joe Kort's areas of specialties are:

Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity
Sexual Anorexia
Sexual Abuse
Straight men who have sex with men
Erotic Intelligence
Chemical Dependency
Imago Relationship Therapy
Monogamy/Nonmonogamy Issues
Breakup Recovery
Coming Out Issues
Gay Affirmative Therapy
Depression and Anxiety Disorders

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WOULD THE SMALL CHILD YOU ONCE WERE LOOK UP TO THE ADULT YOU HAVE BECOME?

I have decided to reveal the small child I once was to my right>>>>

If my parents and other adults did not know I was going to be gay they would have had to be blind! :)
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IN THIS ISSUE OF KORT'S KORNER

This issue of Kort's Korner is entirely dedicated to the ex-gay movemement led by reparative therapy--otherwise known as Sexual Conversion Disorder. These "extreme makeovers" are abusive and shaming to gay and lesbian adults and particularly children.

If you don't know what it means to be ex-gay it means you considered yourself at one time to be "homosexual" and have changed your orientation from gay to straight and they no longer believe they are "homosexual" any longer. This is impossible of course and plays on many individuals who don't want to be gay or are struggling with it.

It’s been three decades since homosexuality was declassified as a mental disorder, removed as such from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association, a step that was two years later lauded and echoed by the American Psychological Association and two years after that by the National Association of Social Workers. Since then, those organizations, as well as the American Medical Association and a host of other professional bodies, have publicly and consistently rejected the notion that sexual orientation is a characteristic that’s determined by personal choice and have worked to destigmatize homosexuality.
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An article I wrote about this is on my website here at if you click here: Sexual Anorexia and Self Hate
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In my forthcoming book published by WW Norton I will talk about how reparative therapy harms the development of a gay and lesbian identity. The harm is also in that it promotes homophobia and heterosexism which gives permission to those who are anti-gay to openly and unapologetically bash gays and lesbians and harm their self-esteem and cause depression and anxiety disorders.

Since this book he has begun a non-profit organization that counters right-wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life.

For more information, visit

Truth Wins Out

Besen also has just released another book that includes his writings and thoughts in the past year.
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REVIEW of Bashing Back BY JOE KORT:

Wayne Besen's comedic wit and knowledge base compels you to read through this book. Besen takes current events involving homoesxuality in America and helps make sense of the confusing politics at play. Like watching the Daily Show, Besen makes gay news entertaining, enlightening, and informing. Besen is on the pulse of gay issues in politics, the media, religion, and the gay community itself....This book is A VALUABLE RESOURCE BOTH CURRENTLY AND AS TIME GOES BY--A GREAT READ FOR GAY HISTORY IN AMERICA! Joe Kort

I highly recommend this book.

To purchase at amazon.com click here Bashing Back

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TRUTH WINS OUT RELEASES YOUTUBE VIDEO EXAMINING RELIGIOUS RIGHT'S DAY OF TRUTH
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Day of Truth Promotes Shame and Pushes Ex-Gay Conversion Therapy In Public Schools, Says Filmmaker Daniel Gonzales

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Truth Wins Out unveiled a new video today on YouTube examining the "Day of Truth" which aims to push gay youth into ex-gay conversion programs. In response to GLSEN's "Day of Silence" where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth remain silent to protest the silencing effect discrimination and harassment has on LGBT youth, the far right Alliance Defense Fund created a Day of Truth one day after the pro-gay Day of Silence.

"The Day of Truth is nothing but an elaborate attempt by right wing groups to push junk psychology and bad-theology on gay youth," says Daniel Gonzales who helped write and narrate the video. Gonzales is a former patient of 'ex-gay' therapist and NARTH president Joseph Nicolosi.

The religious right sells their "Day of Truth" as a compassionate message of truth but this film examines how the real message being pushed at this event is neither compassionate nor truthful.

1) How Can Lies Be Truth? -An Examination of the "Day of Truth"

2) The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists documentary film Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement is now available.

The release of Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement marks the culmination of a three-year effort by the AGLP to counter an increasing amount of misinformation about gay people and homosexuality which is being put forth in the media.

This documentary is AGLP's professional response to those who have made it their mission to pathologize homosexuality to religious communities for an increasingly political goal.

Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement poignantly illustrates how these so called "therapies" have left devastated individuals and families in their wake.

About the film:

Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement

Presented by: The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists (AGLP)

Director/Producer: Alicia Salzer, MD, salzermd@earthlink.net
(917)576-6991 who is a regular expert on the Montel Williams Show

SYNOPSIS

Again and again we see it in the news: evangelical ministers who preach against homosexuality and scandalizing themselves when their own homosexuality is revealed. Proponents of so-called “reparative therapy” know it doesn’t work. Yet they persist with ever-greater fervor and insist that gay Christians try to change their sexual orientation.

"Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement" profiles the journeys of four gay Christians who did everything possible to become heterosexual by following the “treatment” protocols of the so-called ex-gay ministries.

At times heartbreaking, at other times hilarious, the approaches taken by these religious groups range from shock therapy and hypnosis to “gender coaching.” Ultimately the “therapy” fails, even for the ministers in charge as they repeatedly scandalize themselves by "relapsing into gayness".

Some of “Abomination’s” subjects spent decades in torment before they ultimately re-defined every aspect of their values, morals and beliefs to allow themselves to accept a gay and Christian identity. But self-acceptance eluded Mary Lou’s daughter, Ana, who committed suicide. Her daughter’s death causes a change of heart in this fundamentalist Christian mother who comes to realize that “Jesus Christ himself would not have treated her the way I did”.

In the end, we must ask, is Homosexuality an “Abomination”? Or is the real “Abomination” how Gay Conservative Christians are summarily rejected by their families, their communities, their churches and who are told that they have forfeited both the promise of heaven and the love of God.

“Abomination” is a poignant testimony to the healing power of love on the road to self-acceptance. It is also a film about human rights and the fragility of our liberty in an increasingly fundamentalist America.

Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement is now commercially available through the The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists (AGLP) WEBSITE,

Royalties from the sale of this DVD will help sustain the ongoing goals and mission of AGLP.

3) Another video that is a dark comedy documentary on the topic is ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

4) And then finally a closer look at the religious agenda of trying to change those who are gay and lesbian is an excellent documentary called FISH CAN'T FLY
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OTHER EXCELLENT INTERNET RESOURCES:
An excellent resource for information about the ex-gay movement is EXGAYWATCH.COM

Truth Wins Out

To read more about those involved in reparative therapy go to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH & THERAPY OF HOMOSEXUALITY

"10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Improve Their Lives" was originally published in 2003. In 2004 it was translated in both German and in Spanish.

Each of these books can be ordered at German Translation: and Spanish Translation

Introduction: Start Your Hero?s Journey and Let Your Initiation Begin!
"10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Find Real Love":

Chapter 1: Live in Integrity and Be Accountable to Yourself and Your Partner

Chapter 2: Become the Man You Were Meant to Be

Chapter 3: Discover How What You Hate Can Help You Love

Chapter 4: Go from a Gay Boy to a Gay Man with Your Father

Chapter 5: Recognize the Difference Between Mommy Nearest, Mommy Dearest, and Mommy Queerest

Chapter 6: Learn How To Disarm--Not Strong-arm--Your Partner In Communication

Chapter 7: Know Your Sexual Shadow

Chapter 8: Understand the New Mixed Marriage: When Three's a Crowd

Chapter 9: How to Call It Quits Without Being a Quitter

Chapter 10: Bring Your Own Shadow

Introduction: Start Your Hero's Journey and Let Your Initiation Begin!

By showing how to look closely at the deepest sources of your wants and needs, "10 SMART THINGS GAY MEN CAN DO TO FIND REAL LOVE" will help you achieve the kind of lasting close relationships you deserve.

Read an introduction to the book.

Visit Amazon.com to purchase the book.
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10 smart things gay men can do to improve their lives are:

Introduction
What Works? And What Doesn't?

Chapter 1
Take Charge of Their Own Lives

Chapter 2
Affirm Themselves by Coming Out

Chapter 3
Resolve Differences With Parents and Relatives

Chapter 4
"Graduate" From Delayed Adolescence

Chapter 5
Avoid-or Overcome-Sexual Addiction

Chapter 6
Learn from Successful Mentors Who've Been There, Done That

Chapter 7
Take Advantage of "Therapy Workouts"

Chapter 8
Achieve-and Maintain-Rewarding Relationships

Chapter 9
Understand the Stages of Loves

Chapter 10
Commit to Their Partner

Read an introduction to the book.
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Gay Affirmative Therapy for the Straight Clinician:
The Essential Guide

In press from WW Norton Books due out in 2007*

A book for helping straight clinicians work with Gays and Lesbians
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As a psychotherapist, if you have gay and lesbian clients,

It’s not enough to be gay-friendly.

The fact is, even the best intentioned therapists have some level of homophobia to overcome.

From birth, heterosexist culture imprints us to think that heterosexuality is primary,and that any other orientation is inferior.

It’s not even enough to be gay yourself.

Gay or straight, we’re taught the homo-negative belief that the "alternate lifestyle" of being gay is a more difficult way to live. But the "alternative" of living heterosexually is actually harder for gay men and lesbians, and can lead only to depression and self-defeating, or even self-destructive behaviors.

Learn the issues that gay men and lesbians face.

They may surprise you!

COMING From WW Norton Books by Joe Kort: "Gay Affirmative Therapy for the Straight Clinician: The Essential Guide" by Joe Kort, MSW, LMSW

This book will offer skills and information to straight therapist working with gay, bisexual and lesbian clients. It is not enough to be gay friendly. It is crucial that therapists be armed with the facts and information to do effective work with their gay, lesbian and bisexual clients.

It is based on my work with Gay and Lesbian clients, my own personal journey as a gay male and psychotherapist of 21 years, along with the information I teach at Wayne State University's School of Social Work on Lesbian and Gay Studies
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Click on the images of the books to purchase Joe's two published books at Joe's library .

If you want to book a signing or workshop anywhere in your area please feel free to contact me at joekort@joekort.com or 248-399-7317.