Albert Dean Byrd was born in 1948 and died 4 April 2012. He was a former president of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, a research organization that advocates sexual orientation change efforts. He was a psychologist who focused on SOCE, and wrote on the topic. Although raised by a Buddhist mother and a Baptist father, Byrd converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was very active in the debate within the LDS Church on issues involving homosexuality.