Final answer:
Reparative therapy is widely regarded as ineffective and potentially harmful, with no scientific evidence supporting its ability to change sexual orientation. It is not recommended by the American Psychological Association and is being legislated against in various regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research has consistently shown that sexual orientation is a stable characteristic of a person and is not a choice. Therefore, claims of reparative therapy being able to change one’s sexual orientation are unsupported and criticized by the scientific community. The American Psychological Association has not recommended this practice; on the contrary, many professional organizations and legislative bodies have condemned conversion therapy due to its ineffectiveness and potential harm. Dr. Spitzer, who previously claimed success in reparative therapy, later retracted his statement and apologized, acknowledging the lack of scientific evidence and the harm the therapy could cause.
To conclude, reparative therapy is deemed harmful and ineffective at changing an individual's sexual orientation, and efforts are underway to make such therapy illegal in various jurisdictions. Moreover, evidence supports the notion that sexual orientation is a deep-seated part of an individual's identity, likely with biological underpinnings, further emphasizing the inappropriateness of attempts to alter it through therapy.