conversion therapy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Princeton, NJ (December 30, 2014) – Leelah Alcorn Suicide – A Call to End Conversion Therapy

Mental health professionals and transgender people are painfully aware that trying to force a person into a false gender identity can severely harm the individual, and may ultimately lead to death. Leelah was subjected to a discredited and life threatening practice known as “conversion therapy” by her parents, which, combined with active suppression of her gender identity, ultimately brought about her death.

This practice has been roundly condemned as dangerous and ineffective by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association, among others. They and we believe that no transgender person should ever be subjected to psychological brainwashing tactics. Nor should any parent or teen ever be led to believe that such “therapy” can have any beneficial effect.

In honor of Leelah Alcorn, we call for the immediate creation of a federal law to be known as Leelah’s Law to prohibit dangerous ‘conversion therapy’ for transgender, gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. The use of any religion-based “conversion therapy” is an atrocity against our youth and must be banned in all fifty states. [Read more…]