Report Calls for End to Dangerous Conversion Therapy for Minors

Author: The Human Rights Campaign
Published: 18th Oct 2015
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: LGBTQ+ News Publications

Summary: Report shows extensive damage that conversion therapy can cause and why it is urgent it is ended.

Main Document

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which makes "clear that conversion therapy is not an appropriate therapeutic approach based on the evidence, and explores alternative ways to discuss sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression with young people."

"Conversion therapy is child abuse, and the Obama Administration has joined our call to ban its practice once and for all," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "This is dangerous junk science that uses fear and shame to tell young people the only way to find love and acceptance is by changing the very nature of who they are. Today's new health report shows the extensive damage that so-called conversion therapy can cause and why it's so urgent that we end it in all fifty states."

Conversion therapy - a discredited practice that falsely claims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - has been denounced by every mainstream medical and mental health association, including the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association. This new report is based on consensus findings by leading mental health experts that make clear that conversion therapy is not an appropriate or responsible practice.

HRC and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have partnered with state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation to end this dangerous practice, including the laws passed in California, New Jersey, Oregon, the District of Columbia, and most recently in Illinois.

In April, the White House called for an end to the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. In May, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) introduced the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act - the first federal legislation to prohibit the practice of providing conversion therapy to any person in exchange for monetary compensation or advertising such services.

For more information about the dangers of conversion therapy and NCLR's #BornPerfect campaign visit www.NCLRights.org/BornPerfect or HRC's resource page.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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