December 2003 marked the 30th anniversary of the American Psychiatric Association’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality as a normal sexual orientation have broadened the scope of ethical standards and therapeutic approaches when working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual individuals. This review provides an overviewof the circumstances leading to the decision and the effect it has had on the helping professions.
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