“Ex-gay” therapist allegedly found looking for sex on Manhunt and Gay Bear Nation
Psychologist who tries to 'cure' LGBTQ people reportedly used the screen name "hotnhairy72"
A conversion therapy psychologist in Florida who tries to ‘cure’ his clients’ homosexuality has allegedly been discovered using gay hookup sites.
Norman Goldwasser, the clinical director of Horizon Psychologist Services in Miami Beach, was reportedly found looking for sex on Manhunt and Gay Bear Nation under the screename “hotnhairy.”
The discovery was made by Wayne Besen, founder and executive director of LGBTQ nonprofit Truth Wins Out, who said he had been alerted to Goldwasser’s profiles by a former client who had undergone conversion therapy.
Besen claims that Goldwasser, who has previously compared homosexuality to obsessive-compulsive disorder, operated the profiles “hotnhairy72” on Manhunt and “Hotnhairy” on Gay Bear Nation.
Goldwasser, who co-wrote a paper in 2006 arguing that homosexuality could be treated, allegedly advertised himself on Manhunt as a “45 [year-old] hairy built guy looking for someone similar and normal for regular hookups,” according to screenshots.
The profile adds that he is “into hairy guys only” and describes him as “very oral, mostly a top [and] looking to meet up nights or weekend.”
On Gay Bear Nation, Goldwasser’s alleged profile listed him as a “Bear looking for Bear” and seeking “hookups or more if the chemistry is right.”
The Manhunt profile has since been deleted, while the Gay Bear Nation profile remains active.
Besen wrote that he created a fake profile, “Brandon,” to try to connect with Goldwasser, who subsequently contacted him using the name “Dave.”
Besen claims that Goldwasser offered to meet “Brandon” at a motel room in Fort Lauderdale, which is when Besen revealed his true identity.
Speaking to NBC News, Besen said he confronted Goldwasser about the profiles, but that the psychologist initially denied ownership.
“I promptly texted the Manhunt screenshot,” Besen said. “He then called me and confessed, begging for mercy.”
NBC News confirmed that the number Besen had texted belonged to Goldwasser, before contacting the psychologist to ask him about the profiles.
Goldwasser responded in a statement saying the story being made public was “incredibly painful but will become a catalyst for me seeking the right help for myself.”
“It is sad that despite the fact that I have been able to help many people over the years who have suffered from the effects of child sexual abuse and sexual addiction, I obviously was unable to help myself,” he said. “There is no justification for my personal behavior and I deeply regret the pain I have caused people in my personal life.”
Writing on Truth Wins Out, Besen said the nonprofit “does not engage in the outing of people participating in ex-gay programs unless there is overwhelming hypocrisy, exchange of commerce, and the threat of harm to LGBT youth. The Goldwasser outing passes all three tests.”
“Norman Goldwasser’s double life of unconscionable lies highlights the rank hypocrisy and predatory nature of the fraudulent ‘ex-gay’ industry,” Besen said. “We urge every state to ban the scourge of conversion therapy that attacks the mental health of LGBT youth and puts them in harms [sic] way.”
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