Gay cure therapist trawled for gay sex online on as ‘Hotnhairy72’
Norman Goldwasser (Jewish Community Watch)
A prominent practitioner of gay ‘cure’ therapy has admitted seeking anonymous gay sex online.
Norman Goldwasser, an Orthodox Jewish therapist in Miami Beach, Florida, had ties to controversial conversion therapy groups including National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), which promotes the scientifically-discredited idea that gay people can be cured.
Despite his advocacy for conversion therapy, LGBT activist group Truth Wins Out has revealed that Goldwasser sought anonymous gay sex on hook-up websites Manhunt and BearNation, where he had the profile name “Hotnhairy72.”
Looking for gay sex online
The Manhunt profile states that he is looking for “f**k buddies” and “married men,” and is into “sucking” and “jerking off” — but with “hairy guys only.”
The group claims that when an activist approached the Manhunt account using a fake pseudonym, Goldwasser offered to meet up for sex in a motel room.
Norman Goldwasse’s Manhunt profile (Truth Wins Out)
Goldwasser did not respond to a comment request from PinkNews, but in a statement to NBC said that he would “seek the right help for myself” after the revelations.
He did not apologise for his past advocacy of gay ‘cure’ therapy, instead apologising for his “personal behaviour.”
Norman Goldwasser’s BearNation profile (Truth Wins Out)
Goldwasser said: “It is sad that despite the fact that I have been able to help many people over the years who have suffered from the effects of child sexual abuse and sexual addiction, I obviously was unable to help myself.
“There is no justification for my personal behaviour and I deeply regret the pain I have caused people in my personal life.”
Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen said: “Norman Goldwasser’s double life of unconscionable lies highlights the rank hypocrisy and predatory nature of the fraudulent ‘ex-gay’ industry.
“Goldwasser can’t claim his personal life is none of our business when trying to ‘cure’ LGBT people is his business.”
Besen described Goldwasser as a “fraud” and a “charlatan” who is “misleading clients and adversely affecting their mental health.”
Norman Goldwasser (Jewish Community Watch)
He added: “We are particularly concerned when Goldwassser’s scam preys on young people susceptible to his charade.”
Gay ‘cure’ therapy is still legal in more than 30 states despite being condemned by nearly every major medical, therapeutic and psychological body.
Experts overwhelmingly agree that attempts to cure sexuality or gender identity are futile, misguided, and often extremely harmful, and governments across the world are coming under increasing pressure to crack down.
Attempts to force teens to repress their true selves have been linked to depression, self-harm and even suicide.
In March, the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted to condemn gay ‘cure’ therapy and urged member countries to ban the harmful practice.
It says: “[Parliament] welcomes initiatives prohibiting LGBTI conversion therapies and banning the pathologisation of trans identities and urges all Member States to adopt similar measures that respect and uphold the right to gender identity and gender expression.”
The same report also included calls for the European Commission and Member States to guarantee freedom of movement for same-sex couples and their families, while a section on trans rights “calls on Member States to recognise change of gender and to provide access to quick, accessible and transparent legal gender recognition procedures without medical requirements such as surgery or sterilisation.”
