Sarah Weden

February 21, 2015

TODAYS NEWS
LGBT+ Conversion Therapy Should be Banned

Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change a persons

sexuality, romantic orientation, or gender identity. There are many methods
therapists use to fix these people, including but not limited to electric shock
therapy, shaming, orgasmic reconditioning, inducing nausea, and trying to make
them more masculine or feminine. This type of therapy is not ethical in any shape
or form, and it contributes to the reason LGBT+ teens commit suicide. Leelah
Alcorns suicide note is proof that conversion therapy is abusive and leads to
depression and self-hatred. She talked about how her parents forced her to go to
reparative therapy, and how it was part of the reason she committed suicide. Also,

Justice Project - CP English

(above) A man stands

up against the mentally
abusive methods of
conversion therapy.

Sarah Weden

February 21, 2015

conversion therapy has been evident for a long time in

our society, and it has never been scientifically proven to
work.
Many associations are opposed to reparation
therapy, including the American Psychiatric Association,
who say that The potential risks of reparative therapy
are great, including depression, anxiety and selfdestructive behavior, since therapist alignment with
societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce
self-hatred already experienced by the patient. There
are many other major organizations that share the same
opinion. The very fact that a psychiatric association
disapproves of conversion therapy shows how damaging
the therapy can be emotionally and mentally.
There is no concrete evidence that conversion
therapy cures certain gender identities and sexualities.
It is all based o of the age-old idea that anyone who identifies as anything other than cisgender and
heterosexual has a mental illness that needs to be repaired. Homosexuality was considered a mental
disability until 1973, which was when it was taken off the ocial diagnostic manual by the American
Psychiatric Association.
Two states already have conversion therapy banned for everyone under eighteen, to prevent
LGBT+ kids and teens from being forced to attend reparative therapy by their parents. This law that is
evident in New Jersey and California should be active in all fifty states. Adults that willingly choose to go
to conversion therapy are unrelated, but people who are not legally adults need to be protected from the
dangers of conversion therapy. It is likely that banning conversion therapy for minors would reduce
LGBT+ youth suicides significantly.
Justice is ones definition of what is right and what is wrong. Conversion therapy is not right in
any way. Justice has not yet been served in Leelah Alcorns case, as conservation therapy still exists and is
continuing to torment LGBT+ youth. There is absolutely no justice in self-loathing and suicidal thoughts
or actions. Justice will never truly be served until conversion therapy is completely banned for all LGBT+
youth, everywhere.

Justice Project - CP English