According to RationalWiki.Org, Conversion Therapy, often called ‘Reparative Therapy’, ‘… is the notion that homosexuality and transgenderism (author’s note: ‘Gender Dysphoria, the official American Psychiatric Association term, would be better suited here than the academic and awkward term, ‘transgenderism’) can, and should, be “cured.”’
Moreover, RationalWiki informs us that, “Transgender reparative therapy is occasionally practiced on children who display cross-gender behaviors, often by misgueded professional psychiatrists who seek to, for example, get young boys to ‘drop the Barbie.’”
In 1997 the APA officially passed a resolution that stated four principles, which are as follows:
“Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and the APA opposes all portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual people as mentally ill and in need of treatment due to their sexual orientation;”
“Psychologists do not knowingly participate in or condone discriminatory practices with lesbian gay and bisexual clients;”
“Psychologists respect the rights of individuals, including lesbian, gay and bisexual clients to privacy, confidentiality, self-determination and autonomy;”
“Psychologists obtain appropriate informed consent to therapy in their work with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients.”
The main organization advocating secular forms of conversion therapy is the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality which often partners with religious groups. (Wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_Therapy)
“National health organizations in the United States have announced that there has been no scientific demonstration of conversion therapy’s efficacy in the last forty years.” (Wikipedia)
Mainstream health organizations critical of conversion therapy include: The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, The American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Are their different methods of Conversion Therapy?
There are a myriad of techniques used for this ‘therapy’. Amongst them: Aversion therapy, hugging, gender reinforcement, hit pillows, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, as well as electro-shock therapy to the genitals. (Wikipedia)
According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), “The practices used in conversion therapy are sometimes referred to as: Reparative Therapy, Ex-Gay Therapy, Psychological Abuse and Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE). The NCLR goes on to say that, “In the past, some mental health professionals resorted to extreme measures such as institutionalization, castration, and electroconvulsive shock therapy to try to stop people from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).”
“The techniques most commonly used include a variety of behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and other practices that try to change or reduce same-sex attraction or alter a person’s gender identity.” (NCLR)
“According to a 2009 report of the American Psychological Association, the techniques therapists have used to try to change sexual orientation and gender identity include inducing nausea, vomiting, or paralysis while showing the patient homoerotic images; providing electric shocks; having the individual snap an elastic ban around the wrist when aroused by same-sex erotic images or thoughts; using shame to create aversion to same-sex attractions; orgasmic reconditioning; and satiation therapy.” (NCLR)
The NCLR states that the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) currently practices the current guidelines for conversion therapy, “..consider techniques that include hypnosis, behavior and cognitive therapies, sex therapies, and psychotropic medication, among other.”
Is Conversion Therapy accepted and practiced by the majority of mental health professionals? (Note to self: Different churches/denominations stance on Conversion Therapy?)
Though plenty of organizations speak out against it, the Southern Policy Law Center states that, “Nearly 70 therapists currently advertise they practice conversion therapy in 20 states and the District of Columbia.”
What is the position of mental health professional organizations on Conversion Therapy?
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: “Clinicians should be aware that there is no evidence that sexual orientation can be altered through therapy, and that attempts to do so may be harmful.” Additionally, “There is no empirical evidence adult homosexuality can be prevented if gender nonconforming children are influenced to be more gender conforming.”
American Academy of Pediatrics: “Therapy directed at specifically changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving charges in orientation.”
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: “[T]he association does not consider homosexuality a disorder that requires treatment, and as such, we see no basis for [reparative therapy]. AAMFT expects its members to practice based on the best research and clinical evidence available.”
American Counseling Association: “The belief that same-sex attraction and behavior is abnormal and in need of treatment is in opposition to the position taken by national mental health organizations, including the ACA.
American Medical Association: “Aversion therapy (a behavioral or medical intervention which pairs unwanted behavior, in this case, homosexual behavior, with unpleasant sensations or aversive consequences) is no longer recommended for gay men and lesbians.”
American Psychiatric Association: “Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or ‘repair’ homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Furthermore, anecdotal reports of ‘cures’ are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm.”
American Psychological Association: “Therefore be it resolved that the American Psychological Association affirms that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality regardless of sexual orientation identity.”
How damaging has Conversion Therapy been shown to be to patients?
The Southern Policy Law Center is quoted as saying, “People who have undergone conversion therapy have reported increased anxiety, depression and in some cases, suicidal ideation.”
NCLR states, “ Conversion therapy can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. In 2009, the APA issued a report concluding that the reported risks of the practices include: depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, disappointment, self-blame, decreased self-esteem, and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, hostility and blame toward parents, feelings of anger and betrayal, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors, a feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to self, a loss of faith, and a sense of having wasted time and resources.”
The NCLR continues on to state that the risks are even greater for youth. They state that minors who experience family rejection based on their sexual orientation and gender identity face serious health risks. The research shows that LGB youth who report higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were more than 8x more likely to report having attempted suicide, more than 5x more likely to report high levels of depression, more than 3x more likely to use illegal drugs, and more than 3x more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection.
Is there any kind of therapy proven to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation?
From the NCLR: “Can any type of therapy change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity?”
“No. In 2009, the American Psychological Association conducted a comprehensive review of the published literature on these practices and concluded that they are not supported by any reliable evidence. In fact, the APA found that the opposite was true: ‘The results of scientifically valid research indicate that it is unlikely that individuals will be able to reduce same-sex sexual attractions or increase other-sex attractions through SOCE.’”
Which states already ban Conversion Therapy?
Use of Conversion Therapy is banned and illegal in California and New Jersey. Legislative actions ot make it illegal in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are currently in process. Legislation banning conversion therapy is still pending in: Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Hawaii.
“In 2012, California became the first state to protect LGBT youth from dangerous and scientifically discredited efforts by state-licensed therapists to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. This law (Senate Bill 1172) prohibits therapists who are licensed by the State of California from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of people under 18. In 203, New Jersey enacted a second law (Assembly Bill 3371).” (NCLR)
What exactly do the laws in those states do to protect patients? Are they just preventing youth from Conversion Therapy or is the entire practice outlawed?
New Jersey’s ban protects only minors. “Judge Freda Wolfson rejected the claim of New Jersey parents that it violated their rights by keeping them from treating their children for same-sex attraction” (Wikipedia)
“Laws passed in California and New Jersey, and bills introduced in several other states, prohibit state-licensed therapists from engaging in scientifically discredited and dangerous practices that try to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” (NCLR).
“These laws provide that state-licensed mental health providers may not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 years of age.” (NCLR)
“The laws define ‘sexual orientation change efforts’ to include any practices by mental health providers that seek to change any individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expression, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.” (NCLR)
Why were those laws needed?
“These laws are needed to ensure that therapists who are licensed by the state are providing competent care and are not harming patients.” (NCLR)
“These laws are especially needed to protect minors, who are almost always forced or coerced to undergo conversion therapy. These state-licensed practitioners frequently prey on well-intentioned parents and legal guardians who do not understand that they are putting their children at risk of serious harm.” (NCLR)
How long have those laws been in place? Or how have they withstood court challenges?
“After California Governor Jerry Brown signed California’s bill into law, two anti-LGBT groups filed lawsuits claiming that it violates their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion and is unconstitutionally vague.” (NCLR)
“A panel of the United States Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the California law is valid. The same anti-LGBT groups then filed challenges to the law in New Jersey, where a federal district court upheld it as well.” (NCLR)