When it comes to the kinds of counseling therapists can ethically offer those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, the Psychiatric Association usually takes its cues from the gay community. But a spiritual component will be offered by Dr. Al Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Spokesman Bob Stith.

“The APA is getting, I believe, a lot of pressure from within their own ranks of people who feel that they are shutting out the religious dimension. I think they are beginning to heed that.”

The highlight of the event will be a debate between Mohler and gay Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson.

“There are a lot of general statements made that if you take it apart, it doesn’t hold water," says Stith. "And Dr. Mohler’s very good at being able to do that. I think he’s going to be very good at being able to diffuse both the theological smokescreen and the fact that the actual science doesn’t support what they say it does.”

Robinson was not available for comment. On the under-card is another debate between pro-gay psychiatrist, David Scasta and Dr. Warren Throckmorton of Grove City College.

“I think what this symposium signals is that religion as a core variable of personality is being taken more and more seriously them at the health professions.”

The symposium will take place in Washington DC on May 5th.

Bishop Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, was elected Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.  Robinson was a keynote speaker at a recent event held by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  The symposium is open to psychiatrists and credentialed press attending the Annual Meeting.

David Scasta is the past president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists and is current editor of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy.