Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity
A U.S. organization formerly known as NARTH that promoted conversion therapy and attempts to change sexual orientation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (ATCSI), formerly the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), is a United States organization associated with the promotion of conversion therapy, also called reparative or sexual-orientation-change efforts. The organization was established in 1992 by Benjamin Kaufman, Charles Socarides, and Joseph Nicolosi. Its founders argued that homosexuality should remain an object of scientific and clinical inquiry and maintained that sexual orientation could be altered through psychotherapy. The organization presented itself as secular, distinguishing its work from explicitly religious “ex-gay” ministries, although it formed relationships with several religiously affiliated groups and individuals. NARTH operated from Encino, California, where it was associated with the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic. Its activities included publishing material about the causes and mutability of homosexuality, supporting therapists who practiced or advocated reparative therapy, offering professional education, and participating in public and legal debates involving homosexuality, same-sex relationships, and LGBT parenting. The organization also collaborated with people connected to groups such as Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, Joel 2:25 International, Evergreen International, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The organization’s central claims have been rejected by the mainstream medical and psychological establishment. Major professional associations in the United States and elsewhere have generally concluded that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and that efforts to change sexual orientation lack reliable evidence and may cause psychological harm. The American Psychological Association criticized the environment created by NARTH as one in which prejudice and discrimination could flourish, while the Southern Poverty Law Center identified NARTH as a prominent source of purported scientific arguments used in anti-gay advocacy. No major U.S. professional association has recognized ATCSI as an authoritative scientific or clinical body, and no current accredited school, university, or professional program is identified as training counselors in reparative therapy. The organization experienced administrative and reputational difficulties during the 2000s and early 2010s. In 2011 it failed to pay dues to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and was removed from the board’s list of providers eligible to offer continuing-education credit to therapists. Its federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was revoked by the Internal Revenue Service in September 2012 after continuing failures to submit required filings. In 2014 the organization adopted the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity name, while continuing to be associated with the NARTH Institute identity. Several controversies involving officers, advisers, and published material affected the organization’s public profile. Executive secretary Abba Goldberg disclosed a prior conviction for conspiracy and fraud. Former officer and scientific adviser George Rekers attracted intense media attention after a 2010 trip involving a male escort; Rekers denied improper conduct but subsequently resigned from the organization’s board. An essay by science-advisory committee member Gerald Schoenewolf, published on the organization’s website in 2005, made highly contentious claims about gay-rights activism, the American Psychological Association, and slavery. After protests, including one from the National Black Justice Coalition, NARTH issued a statement expressing regret over Schoenewolf’s slavery-related comments. The organization remains chiefly documented as an advocate for conversion therapy rather than as a body representing the scientific consensus on sexual orientation.
History
The organization was founded in 1992 by Benjamin Kaufman, Charles Socarides, and Joseph Nicolosi. Its creation followed the founders’ view that the American Psychiatric Association and related professional bodies had restricted discussion of homosexuality and prevented what they considered necessary scientific investigation. They sought to provide an institutional base for clinicians and researchers who believed that same-sex attraction could be treated or changed through psychotherapy. During its NARTH period, the organization promoted what it called reparative therapy and argued that homosexuality could have developmental or family-related causes and might be mutable. Charles Socarides claimed in the 1990s to have treated large numbers of homosexual patients and to have achieved change in a substantial proportion of cases. These claims were not accepted by mainstream professional bodies. The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and other major organizations have rejected the classification of homosexuality as a mental illness and have warned that conversion efforts lack sound evidence and can be harmful. NARTH described itself as secular, but it maintained working relationships with religious organizations and advocates. Its network included or intersected with Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, Joel 2:25 International, Evergreen International, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Nicolosi also collaborated with A. Dean Byrd on publications concerning reparative therapy. Byrd later served as president of the organization and wrote for religious audiences as well as professional publications. The group was headquartered in Encino, California, at the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic. It published essays and research-oriented material, supported therapists who offered conversion therapy, and participated in public controversies and court-related debates concerning homosexuality, same-sex relationships, and gay and lesbian parenting. Former officer and scientific adviser George Rekers testified in cases involving organizations and state agencies working with children, arguing that homosexuality was destructive and opposing gay and lesbian parenthood. The organization’s public reputation was repeatedly affected by controversy. In 2005, its website published an essay by Gerald Schoenewolf, a member of its Science Advisory Committee, that characterized gay-rights activism and the American Psychological Association in inflammatory terms and made a controversial claim about slavery. The essay became a wider public issue in 2006 after protest from the National Black Justice Coalition. NARTH responded that the slavery-related comments had been misconstrued and expressed regret over them. In 2010, executive secretary Abba Goldberg disclosed a previous conviction for conspiracy and fraud. That same year, George Rekers became the subject of extensive media coverage after traveling in Europe with a male escort. Rekers denied inappropriate behavior, but the escort said he had provided sexual massages. Rekers subsequently resigned from the organization’s board. The organization also encountered administrative problems. In July 2011, it failed to pay dues to the California Board for Behavioral Sciences and consequently lost its place on the list of continuing-education providers recognized for California therapists. In September 2012, the IRS revoked its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status because of continuing failures to file required paperwork. In 2014, the organization became known as the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity, while also retaining the NARTH Institute designation. Its documented legacy is primarily its role in advocating conversion therapy and supplying purported scientific and clinical arguments for that practice, despite the contrary consensus of mainstream professional organizations.
- 2014
Adoption of Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity name
[1]The organization adopted its current Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity name and continued to be associated with the NARTH Institute identity.
- 2012
501(c)(3) status revoked
[1]The IRS revoked the organization’s federal tax-exempt status following repeated failures to submit required filings.
- 2011
California continuing-education recognition ended
[1]The organization was removed from the California Board for Behavioral Sciences list of continuing-education providers after failing to pay dues.
- 2006
Response to National Black Justice Coalition protest
[1]After a protest concerning Schoenewolf’s essay, the organization issued a statement expressing regret about comments related to slavery.
- 2005
Controversial essay published
[1]The organization published Gerald Schoenewolf’s essay on gay rights and political correctness, which later drew criticism for inflammatory and historically contentious claims.
- 1992
Organization founded
[1]Benjamin Kaufman, Charles Socarides, and Joseph Nicolosi founded the organization, initially known as the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality.
Products and positioning
The organization positioned itself as a secular scientific and professional alternative to explicitly religious ex-gay ministries, claiming that homosexuality could be understood and changed through therapy. This positioning was strongly disputed by mainstream medical and psychological organizations, which characterize conversion therapy as unsupported, potentially harmful, and unethical.
Research and educational materials
NARTH Institute publications
The organization produced essays, papers, and educational material presenting conversion therapy and reparative therapy as legitimate subjects of clinical or scientific inquiry. These materials advanced claims about the origins and mutability of homosexuality that conflict with the prevailing position of major medical and psychological organizations.
Professional services advocacy · 1992
Reparative therapy advocacy
A central activity was support for therapists who attempted to change clients’ sexual orientation or reduce same-sex attraction. The organization framed this work as therapeutic choice, while mainstream professional organizations have criticized conversion therapy as unsupported, potentially harmful, and unethical.
Continuing education
Therapist education and resources
NARTH sought to provide professional resources and continuing-education opportunities for clinicians sympathetic to reparative therapy. Its recognition as a California continuing-education provider ended in 2011 after the organization failed to pay required dues.
Controversies
2010
George Rekers travel-companion controversy
George Rekers, a former officer and scientific adviser, traveled in Europe with a male escort. Rekers denied inappropriate conduct, while the escort described providing sexual massages. Rekers later resigned from the board.
2010
Abba Goldberg criminal-conviction disclosure
Executive secretary Abba Goldberg disclosed a prior conviction for conspiracy and fraud, for which he had served 18 months in prison.
2006
Controversy over Gerald Schoenewolf essay
An essay published on the organization’s website made inflammatory claims about gay-rights activism, the American Psychological Association, and slavery. The National Black Justice Coalition protested, and the organization later expressed regret concerning the slavery-related comments.
Marketing campaigns
- Advocacy for therapeutic change of sexual orientation
United States
The organization promoted the proposition that sexual orientation, particularly same-sex attraction, could be changed through counseling or psychotherapy. It presented this position as a matter of therapeutic choice and scientific inquiry.
Outcome. The campaign was rejected by the mainstream scientific and medical consensus and became a major source of public controversy.
- Professional and religious network building
United States
Although it described itself as secular, the organization collaborated or interacted with religiously affiliated groups including Evergreen International, Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, Joel 2:25 International, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Outcome. These relationships helped connect the organization’s therapeutic claims with broader religious and ex-gay advocacy networks.
Brand decisions
2014
Organization renamed Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific IntegrityStrategyBackground
The organization had long been publicly identified with NARTH and its advocacy of reparative therapy.
Action taken
It adopted the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity name while retaining an association with the NARTH Institute identity.
Aftermath
The renamed organization continued to be described as a promoter of conversion therapy and remained outside recognition by major U.S. professional associations.
2011
Loss of California continuing-education listingOtherBackground
The organization failed to pay dues to the California Board for Behavioral Sciences.
Action taken
The board removed it from the list of groups authorized to provide continuing-education credits to California therapists.
Aftermath
The organization lost that state-level professional education recognition.
Recent events
- 2012
IRS revoked the organization’s tax-exempt status[1]
Regulation
The Internal Revenue Service revoked the group’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status after ongoing failures to file required paperwork.
- 2011
NARTH removed from California continuing-education provider list[1]
Regulation
The organization failed to pay dues to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and was removed from the list of organizations able to provide continuing-education credits to therapists in California.
Sources2 sources
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