Open Letter to the Board of Trustees of CAMH

Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada

PhD Canada

Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital.

Kennet Zucker is among of Czech sexologist well known as one of leading scientists with undisputable authority in the field of human sexuality and its problems.

Private practice, New York City

Stanley E. Althof, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Executive Director, Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida Former President of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health

Professor, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Dep. of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

I am a registered psychologist in Ontario (Ph.D., C.Psych.) in a group private practice in Waterloo Region. I have previously referred patients to CAMH but will not do so again. I am shocked and appalled that CAMH has decided, based on a rational that can not withstand any degree of intelligent scrutiny, to close a valuable and unique resource for patients and to fire one of its leading researchers/clinicians, Dr. K. Zucker, despite his illustrious career and many years of dedicated service to his patients and to CAMH. CAMH has previously been a highly important resource not only to metro Toronto but to the surrounding region. It saddens me that the leadership of such an important institution would make such a significant and damaging blunder, justifying it by a sham of a review process. Until this mockery of a review has been repudiated and the firing and closure decisions somehow rectified, CAMH can no longer be regarded as a trustworthy community resource for quality psychiatric care.

Professor & Board of Governor's Research Chair, University of Lethbridge, Canada

I thoroughly agree tha tthe closing of the Child and Adolescent Gender Identity Clinic is a terrible mistake. Please rescind that action and reinstate Dr. Zucker, who is a leader in this area of research.

Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada L2S 3A1

Associate Professor Department of Psychology Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada

I am a Psychological Associate and registered member of the College of Psychologists (retired). I am now retired, however I worked as the clinician attached to the Adult GIC for 28 years. I am also a transwoman so I do believe I know a bit about Gender Dysphoria and about the work Dr. Ken Zucker did in the Child and Adolescent Clinic. For CAMH, an organization I was proud to work for, to have capitulated to a small group of community activists based on zero science is tragic. Nothing in Dr. Zucker's work is even remotely suggestive of "Reparative Therapy." Shame on you all. Sincerely, Maxine Petersen-Lee, MA., Psych. Assoc.

Associate Professor Epidemiology and Community Health New York Medical College

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA Center for Behavioral & Addiction Medicine

Colette Chiland, MD, PhD. Honorary Professor Paris Descartes University. Honorary President International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

As a professor at California State University, Stanislaus for 27 years and a sex researcher for over 30 years, I strongly protest the actions of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health in abruptly closing the Child and Adolescent Gender Identity Clinic and in the firing of Dr. Kenneth Zucker, Ph. D. As a clinician for over 20 years and a professional who trains clinicians, I strongly support the best care for clients, but I am also aware in this profession that people are coming to us because of mental health issues. Having worked with children for many years, I am aware that what children and adolescents say happened in their day-to-day life can vary drastically from what adults in their life might tell me. It is always wise to take complaints seriously, but to consider what someone says as fact without further investigation is irresponsible to all parties concerned. I urge you to reconsider this very important decision. We scientists are appalled at the politics from certain groups who want their beliefs followed rather than the scientific evidence. Thank you. Lin Myers Jovanovic, Ph.D.

Professor for Social and Legal Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany