Despite what critics say, I admire Nicolosi

The past several days, I have read some very hurtful articles following the death of a man I have deeply admired, Joseph Nicolosi. He passed away earlier this month and because he is not here to defend himself, I would like to see something positive written about him in a major U.S. newspaper.

Dr. Nicolosi was a leading pioneer in assisting people diminish their same-sex attraction and successfully identifying as heterosexual. By any standard, he was an extremely productive and dedicated individual. He was a prolific author whose books have been translated into numerous languages. He was one of three founders of NARTH, a professional association to support mental-health professionals who work with same-sex attracted clients seeking change. He also presented workshops around the world to help therapists refine their skills.

But what I admire about him most is that he reminded us all that, despite the opposition of others, people can still find the power to live a life that is more in tune with traditional values. That alone is one way in which he left this world a better place.

This story was originally published March 20, 2017 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Despite what critics say, I admire Nicolosi."