The American College of Pediatricians is a fringe organization that promotes social conservatism primarily by distributing misinterpreted and misrepresented information from reputable medical and research sources and discredited and highly questionable "facts" from other fringe individuals, organizations and resources such as the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).
The primary goal of the American College of Pediatricians, despite claims to the contrary, is the continued marginalization, isolation, denial of equal rights and mutual respect for transgender children, youth, their families and other members of the greater LGBT population.
These lists are taken from both the American College of Pediatricians and NARTH websites. We include background information on some of those listed below where we feel that information might be helpful or useful to families and others visiting this page.
If you are the parent, caregiver, friend or advisor to a transgender or gender non-conforming child or youth, TransActive recommends AVOIDING these individuals as caregivers and to contact us if you become aware of their involvement as so-called "expert witnesses" in legal cases, policy development or other actions involving
transgender identity in children and adolescents.
Cartwright, James M.D. , Madison, Alabama
Claybrook, Phillip M.D., Bristol, Tennessee
Cook, Barton M.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Cooper, Jeffrey M.D. , Duluth, Georgia
Craig, Ann Marie M.D., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
de Miranda, Federico M.D., Ft Smith, Arkansas
Denny, Kevin Scott M.D., Huntsville, Alabama
Diamond, Eugene M.D., Chicago, Illinois
Eugene Diamond is a member of the Catholic Medical Association. He is on record as being opposed to providing female rape victims access to so-called "morning after" pills to prevent pregnancy as a result of the rape. In his own words, "...in all likelihood the woman is not going to become pregnant in the first place. Thus, what reasons could be given for taking any risk of [aborting a fetus]?"
Eakin-Festa, Eliane M.D., North Brunswick, New Jersey
Fischer, Frank M.D., Kingsport, Tennessee
Fletcher, Michael M.D., Bristol, Tennessee
Glover, Martin M.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Grunstra, Bernard M.D., Bristol, Tennessee
Jones, Woodson Scott M.D., Bethesda, Maryland
June, Patricia Lee M.D., Moultrie, Georgia
Dr. June is a member of the Board of Directors of Presbyterians Pro-Life. Dr. June has been a deacon in the Presbyterian Church and served as a missionary in Bangladesh.
Kaleida, Phillip M.D., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Keiter, William M.D. , Kinston, North Carolina
LeCraw, Deborah M.D., Bristol, Tennessee
Lewis, Donald M.D. Kingsport, Tennessee
Lonas, Robert M.D., Boone ,North Carolina
Mann, Robert Willliam M.D., Mansfield, Texas
Marsh, Michael M.D., Springtown, Texas
Mercier, Thomas M.D. , Mattituck, New York
Michal, William M.D., High Point, North Carolina
A Google search failed to locate a doctor by this name practicing medicine in North Carolina.
Miller, Ronald M.D., Gallatin, Tennessee
A Google search failed to locate a doctor by this name practicing medicine in Tennessee.
Montgomery, John M.D., Columbus, Indiana
Moraflores, Fernando M.D., Clewiston, Florida
Morrison, David M.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Dr. Morrison is a member of "Physicians for Life", an anti-choice organization.
Nelson, Fredric M.D., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 1995, Dr. Nelson wrote an article in opposition to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child treaty, which was at that time under consideration by the U.S. Congress for ratification. Congress failed to ratify it, and as of 2010, the United States is the ONLY member of the United Nations to have not ratified the treaty.
Payne, William Richard M.D., Cartersville, Georgia
Pearson, James Michael M.D., Johnson City, Tennessee
Poston, Mary Allison Scott M.D., High Point, North Carolina
Quick, Sharon M.D., Bonney Lake, Washington
Dr. Quick serves on the "Scientific Advisory Committee" of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). She has also testified in Washington state in opposition to ESSB 5297 on the grounds that "programs to prevent discrimination... will likely result in normalizing homosexuality in sexuality education." She included in her testimony the statement that, "Consistent play with traditionally opposite gender toys is one of the factors used to diagnose gender identity disorder or childhood, a condition that is associated with later [homosexuality]." To the best of our knowledge, she is no longer a practicing physician.
Ironically, Dr. Quick authored a medical ethics paper entitled "The Stones Cry Out". In this paper she decries, in defense of the unborn, that "Throughout history, people have been discriminated against because of race, religion, nationality, etc." [Apparently, LGBT youth do NOT fall into her definition of "etc."]
Rakowsky, Alexander M.D., Bethesda, Maryland
Ravenel, Samuel M.D., High Point, North Carolina
Rogers, Howard M.D., Gainesville, Florida
Saxer, Robert M.D., Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Dr. Saxer is a Deacon in the Catholic Church and is a Past President of the National Catholic Medical Association and Co-Founder of the Florida Catholic Medical Association. He left medical practice in 1995 to pursue full-time the "Pro-Life" cause. He has been a proponent of "pro-family" [anti LGBT] legislation.
Simon, Jeffrey M.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Smith, Carrie M.D. Cartersville, Georgia
Spruill, William M.D., Roanoke, Virginia
Tompkins, Charles M.D., Tucson, Arizona
A Google search failed to locate a doctor by this name practicing medicine in Tucson, AZ.
Trumbull, Den M.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Dr. Den Trumbull is the Vice President of the American College of Pediatricians. Dr. Trumbull is an enthusiastic advocate of spanking children (AAP News, Vol. 12, April 1996, p14.)
van der Jagt, Elise Willem M.D., Rochester, New York
Vasser, Donald M.D., Shiprock, New Mexico
Dr. Vasser is a lay Bible teacher.
Young, Richard M.D. , Cartersville, Georgia
Willson, Leah M.D. , Hutchinson, Minnesota
Wilson, Robert M.D., Pensacola, Florida
Wright, Jean M.D., Savannah, Georgia
Zanga, Joseph M.D., Greenville, North Carolina
Dr. Zanga is a Past President of the American College of Pediatricians. He is a co-author of a factually inaccurate anti-LGBT article that appears on the website "Defend The Family International" that is affiliated with the ultra-conservative Abiding Truth Ministries organization.
The following is from the "Facts About Youth" website:
The College has received support and assistance for this project from the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), the Pediatric Psychosocial Development Committee*, other like-minded organizations, and parents and individuals with a personal perspective on issues related to gender identification and how they impact children.
*The Pediatric Psychosocial Development Committee is an exterior sub-committee of the American College of Pediatricians and consists of the following members, all experts on the sexual development of youth:
Dean Byrd, PhD, Salt Lake City, Utah
| Dean Byrd is the Vice President of NARTH and an Adjunct Professor of Family Studies at the University of Utah. He is the former Director of Clinical Training at LDS Social Services and a former Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University. His training is in genetics, biochemistry and neurochemistry. He is the author of a book published in 2001 entitled "Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ". In the book Dr. Byrd outlines and defends the position of the Mormon church regarding homosexual "behavior". One of the chapters of this book is entitled: "The Degree of Sin That Homosexual Behavior Represents". |
Rick Fitzgibbons, MD, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons is the director of the Institute for Marital Healing and a consultant to the Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican. He is also a member of NARTH's "Scientific Advisory Committee" and a member of the Catholic Medical Association. As stated on the NARTH website, Dr. Fitzgibbons is critical of many programs in the public schools that portray the gay lifestyle as healthy: "Many of these educational programs attempt to mask their true goals by the use of names such as diversity, tolerance or 'no name-calling weeks' when, in fact, they attempt to undermine the Church's teaching on marriage, human sexuality and, now child-rearing."
Arthur Abba Goldberg, JD, CRS, BCPC, Jersey City, New JerseyA joint investigation by the organization Truth Wins Out and the SouthFloridaGayNews.com has revealed that [Arthur Abba Goldberg] is a convicted felon (he served 18 months in prison) who has been hiding his past. Goldberg was found guilty in 1989 of numerous felonies in multiple jurisdictions. The charges ranged from federal mail and wire fraud to conspiracy counts as a result of a bogus bond writing scheme.
K. William O’Connor, the U.S. attorney who put him away, said at his sentencing that Goldberg was “a man who habitually took advantage of people who were economically dependent upon him; that he did not hesitate to lie or cheat or cover up to achieve his criminal aim. His greed has caused incalculable harm...”
Mr. Goldberg was disbarred on November 9, 1995 by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
He also serves as co-director of JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives for Homosexuality) and, as of February, 2010 was the Executive Secretary of NARTH.
Trayce Hansen, PhD, San Marcos, California
Dr. Hansen consults on legal cases and has testified in both deposition and court hearings related to her professional expertise, which according to knowledgeable sources is based in geriatrics, not child or youth medicine. She authored an article entitled "Children Raised by Openly Homosexual Parents More Likely to Engage in Homosexuality" that was featured on the Anglican Mainstream website. In that article she states: "No one knows for sure by what complex mechanisms homosexual parents disproportionately rear homosexual children. But regardless of how, it appears they do. The public needs to be made aware of the findings of these studies so that when courts adjudicate and citizens vote on issues related to homosexuality, they're fully informed as to the possible consequences of those decisions on children."
Joe Nicolosi, PhD, Encino. California
| Joseph Nicolosi is one of three founding members of NARTH. He is a leading proponent of "reparative/conversion/aversion therapy". The ethics guidelines of major mental health organizations in the United States vary from cautionary statements about the safety, effectiveness, and dangers of prejudice associated with conversion therapy (American Psychological Association), to recommendations that ethical practitioners refrain from practicing conversion therapy (American Psychiatric Association) or from referring patients to those who do (American Counseling Association). In addition to the video at left, check out these links: CNN attempts to interview Dr. Joseph Nicolosi |
Dr. Nicolosi is one of those who continues to misrepresent the 1992 research of Dr. Gary Remafedi.
From Wikipedia:
"Nicolosi’s intervention [reparative] plans involve conditioning a man to a traditional masculine gender role. He should "(1) participate in sports activities, (2) avoid activities considered of interest to homosexuals, such [as] art museums, opera, symphonies, (3) avoid women unless it is for romantic contact, (4) increase time spent with heterosexual men in order to learn to mimic heterosexual male ways of walking, talking, and interacting with other heterosexual men, (5) Attend church and join a men’s church group, (6) attend reparative therapy group to discuss progress, or slips back into homosexuality, (7) become more assertive with women through flirting and dating, (8) begin heterosexual dating, (9) engage in heterosexual intercourse, (10) enter into heterosexual marriage, and (11) father children".
From the "Truth Wins Out" website:
"Nicolosi is also known for his strange theories, such as encouraging his male clients to drink Gatorade and call friends 'dude' to become more masculine."
As a speaker at a 2002 "Love Won Out" conference in Minneapolis, Dr. Nicolosi made a 'joke' about how fathers don't know how to carry babies and always forget to support their heads. "If the father drops the kid and the kid gets brain damage, at least he'll be straight. Small price to pay," he laughed.
John Raney, MD, Mesa, Arizona
Dr. Raney is a member of the Christian Medical & Dental Association. We found several references to his work as a court appointed psychiatrist, primarily in cases involving adolescent sex abuse in one way or another. We were unable to find any other professional associations, papers or articles related to Dr. Raney's psychiatric practice or history.
George Rekers, PhD, Miami, Florida
UPDATE: May 5, 2010 Miami NewTimes News Article About George RekersRachel Maddow covers the revelation that Dr. George Rekers spent a European, all-expenses paid vacation with a twenty-something male escort he contracted with through the website, "RentBoy.com". Rekers is a co-founder of the Family Research Council, a member of NARTH and current advisor to the fringe pseudo-medical group, "The American College of Pediatricians".
In addition to his PhD, George Rekers earned a Doctor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa and is an ordained Baptist minister. Another member of NARTH, Rekers is a co-founder (along with James Dobson & Armand Nicholi Jr.) of the socially conservative Family Research Council and has testified (for pay) against same-sex couples in adoption cases. He has a website called "ProfessorGeorge.com".
In 2004 Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy Davis Fox ruled against a 1999 state of Arkansas decision to ban same-sex couples from adopting. In his ruling (pg.24-25), he stated that;
"It was apparent from both Dr. Rekers' testimony and attitude on the stand that he was there primarily to promote his own personal ideology. If the furtherance of such ideology meant providing the court with only partial information or selectively analyzing study results that was acceptable to Dr. Rekers. Dr. Rekers was unable to testify without referring to approximately seventy pages of notes. Dr. Rekers willingness to prioritize his personal beliefs over his function as an expert provider of fact rendered his testimony extremely suspect and of little, if any, assistance to the court in resolving the difficult issues presented by this case."
According to the Miami Herald, Dr. Rekers stated in a 2008 court deposition that he would, in fact, favor banning anyone from adopting who had more than 18 "sex partners" during a lifetime. "I think that would be a very good social policy", he said. He also said he would also consider banning Native Americans from adopting because research shows that they are also at much higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse. “They would tend to hang around each other,” Rekers testified. “So the children would be around a lot of other Native Americans who are … doing the same sorts of things.”
In re: Gill (p18-23), Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman stated in her decision that;
"Dr. Rekers' testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers' beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."
According to court records, Dr. Rekers had been paid $60,900 by the State of Florida for his testimony and he testified at the time that he may bill the State for additional time.
From the court transcript: "Rekers astounded the Court when he testified that he favors removal of any child from a homosexual household, even after placement in that household for ten years, in favor of a heterosexual household. To this Court's further astonishment, the witness hypothesized that such a child would recover from the removal from his family of 10 years after one year in a heterosexual household. The Court find this testimony to be contrary to science and decades of research in child development."
Julie Hamilton, Ph.D.
(West Palm Beach, FL)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Assistant Professor of Psychology at Palm Beach Atlantic University
Philip Sutton, Ph.D.
(South Bend, IN)
Psychotherapist
Benjamin Kaufman, M.D.
(Sacramento, CA)
Former Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
University of California at Davis
Psychoanalyst
Mary Beth Patton, M.A., L.P.C.
(Portland, OR)
Psychotherapist
Lester Pretlow, Ph.D.
(Martinez, GA)
Associate Professor at the Medical College of GA
David Wood, Ph.D.
(Highland, UT)
Clinical Psychologist
Jerry Harris, Ed.D.
(Sacramento, CA)
Clinical Therapist
Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco
Chauncey Adams, Ph.D.
(St. George, UT)
Clinical Psychologist
Michelle Cretella, M.D.
(Westerly, RI)
NARTH Vice-President of Operations:
David C. Pruden, M.S.
John Babatzanis, M.D.
Joseph Berger, M.D.
Dr. Berger is quoted as having said that transgender children should be sent to school in opposite-sex clothing so they can be "ridiculed" in order to "re-establish that necessary boundary" of conforming to gender roles.
Toby B. Bieber, Ph.D.
Sander J. Breiner, M.D.
Lawrence F. Burtoft, Ph.D.
Cora Dobbs-de Fierro, Ph.D.
Abraham Freedman, M.D.
Hillel Goldberg, Ph.D.
Ian Graham, M.D.
Russell Hilliard, Ph.D.
Elan Karten, Ph.D.
Nathaniel S. Lehrman, M.D.
Felix Loeb, M.D.
Loretta Loeb, M.D.
Uriel Meshoulam, Ph.D.
James Phelan, Ph.D.
Paul Popper, Ph.D.
Sharon Quick, MD, FCP, FAAP
James Randall, M.D.
Philip Scott Richards, Ph.D.
Christopher Rosik, Ph.D. (Co-Chair)
Marcosa Santiago, M.D.
Jeffrey B. Satinover, M.D.
Gerald Schoenewolf, Ph.D.
Natalie Shainess, M.D.
E. Mark Stern, Ed.D., ABPP
Johanna K. Tabin, Ph.D.
C. Downing Tait, M.D.
G. van den Aardweg, Ph.D.
