Richard A. Cohen

Richard A. Cohen
Born1952 (age 71–72)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Alma materBoston University
Antioch University
SpouseJae Sook Cohen (1980–present)
Children3
For other people with the same name, see Richard Cohen (disambiguation).

Richard A. Cohen (born 1952) is a Christian psychotherapist and author associated with the ex-gay movement. He is a co-founder of Positive Approaches to Healthy Sexuality (previously Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality)[1] which offers discredited conversion therapy practices purporting to change a person from homosexual to heterosexual.[2][3][4] In 2002, Cohen was expelled from the American Counseling Association for multiple violations.[5][6]

He is author of Alfie's Home, a children's book which depicts homosexuality as a reversible condition.[7] He gained media attention after demonstrating his ex-gay touch therapy on The Daily Show, which included cuddling with men and beating a pillow.[8][9]

  1. ^ "PATH". March 2, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Boodman, Sandra G. (August 16, 2005). "A Conversion Therapist's Unusual Odyssey". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Richard Cohen's Cynical Makeover". Falls Church News-Press. April 17, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Besen, Wayne R. (2003). Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth. Psychology Press. pp. 164–167. ISBN 978-1-56023-446-3.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Blue, Miranda (February 1, 2013). "Will the Supreme Court read the most horrific children's book of all time?". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cuddling the gay away". Salon.com. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Richard Cohen". GLAAD. July 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2019.