UC San Diego

This dissertation examines the construction of scientific knowledge about "sexual orientation," as it has emerged within debates over reorientation therapies in the United States from the 1950s to the present. Experts struggling over reorientation in this context have been preoccupied with the sexualities of white men, and consequently, have constructed sexual subjectivities intertwined with particular notions of white American masculinity. Drawing on science studies, sexuality studies, and sociology of social movements, and building on an approach developed by Steven Epstein, I study how the credibility of different forms of evidence has been shaped by professionals seeking jurisdiction over therapy clients, the dynamics of opposing social movements, and the historical context. Over time, these struggles have brought about the co- construction of various diagnostic technologies and sexual subjectivities. To trace credibility "hierarchies of evidence," I conducted participant observation at conferences, interviewed relevant scientists and activists, studied scientific and organizational literature, and followed mass media. Through the clashes of actors from different social worlds, reorientation has moved from the center to the margins of science, even as it has remained relevant in the public domain. Following the removal of "homosexuality" from the DSM, reorientation proponents have attempted to reinstate their authority with various tactics. Significantly, psychiatrist Robert Spitzer, known for his key role in demedicalizing homosexuality, conducted research purportedly demonstrating that some gay men and lesbians can become heterosexual through reorientation. While these efforts have been partially successful in public arenas, they have been thwarted in mainstream science by the boundary work of gay-affirmative professionals. Within these struggles, the credibility of evidence in reorientation debates has been interwoven with varying understandings of sexuality and concerns about public policy. Pro-gay and ex-gay movements have become "hybrid," combining professional and lay expertise in the production of facts. As opposing social movements have interacted, they have created constraints and opportunities for one another that have shaped movement strategies and, in turn, have shaped hierarchies of evidence. Relegating reorientation to the fringe has also influenced mainstream science, as popularized dissent has required scientists to develop and clarify claims about reorientation and the relationship between science and religion