So-called “conversion therapy” is a harmful and discredited practice which purports to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Quick Facts
22 states and territories have laws or regulations protecting young people from conversion therapy
At least 70 cities & counties have enacted similar protections
Among young people who have been forced to undergo attempts at conversion therapy, rates of attempted suicide (48%) were more than double those who had not (22%)
According to the UCLA Williams Institute, 700,000 LGBTQ adults have been subjected to conversion therapy and more than 70,000 will experience this discredited practice in coming years
Our Position
American Atheists supports expanding protections for youth to ensure no young person is forced to endure this unscientific and dangerous practice.
Background
Sometimes known as “reparative therapy,” conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. There is no evidence that any of these characteristics can be “changed” through these interventions.
More than 20 states have laws protecting young people from this discredited and harmful practices. Unfortunately, some of these protections have been weakened by religious exemptions or other loopholes that allow unlicensed, unqualified “counselors” or religious leaders to carry out conversion therapy practices.
Laws which prohibit licensed medical and mental health providers from performing conversion therapy on youth under the age of 18 are generally not applicable to clergy.
Religious groups that promote “conversion” or “reparative” therapy believe that individuals can change their sexual orientation or gender identity through prayer or other religious activities. These efforts are not only ineffective—they are actively harmful.
The Supreme Court of the United States has consistently allowed lower court ruling upholding state anti-conversion therapy restrictions. Legislation in both California and New Jersey has been found to be constitutional by U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court has declined to overturn these rulings.
Recent Developments
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc rutrum egestas purus, eget hendrerit nisl sollicitudin elementum. Nulla sagittis ornare ante, at consectetur arcu.
Curabitur nec elit quis nulla pulvinar mollis quis in ipsum. Donec nec nunc neque. Curabitur et diam quis dui feugiat gravida ut id justo. Maecenas nec lacus et libero fringilla blandit vel ac arcu. Ut bibendum enim sed suscipit dapibus.
Mauris odio leo, sodales et enim eu, pharetra fringilla nunc. Vivamus elementum volutpat metus, in commodo lacus pellentesque at. Maecenas posuere cursus ex, quis pellentesque lacus accumsan sed. Fusce lacinia gravida enim. In tristique dui ac suscipit commodo. Donec rhoncus mollis leo id tincidunt.
Fusce pulvinar sagittis malesuada. Duis a semper nisl. Sed ultrices placerat rutrum. Quisque sed volutpat mi, vel malesuada diam. Curabitur dignissim posuere est sit amet consequat. Nunc rutrum, sapien ac porta sodales, est nunc blandit lacus, tincidunt commodo nulla enim vel risus.
Medical & Mental Health Organizations Universally Oppose Conversion Therapy
American Atheists joins with every major medical and mental health organization in the United States in opposing conversion therapy.
These organizations include: American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; American College of Physicians; American Counseling Association; American Medical Association; American Psychiatric Association; American Psychoanalytic Association; American Psychological Association; American School Counselor Association; American School Health Association; National Association of Social Workers; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Regional Office of the World Health Organization; and, World Psychiatric Association.
