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do you even know what CONversion therapy is? have you even bothered to try & find out the facts?
i doubt it, because you never do.
What Is Conversion Therapy?
Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on March 06, 2024Written by Shishira Sreenivas
Conversion therapy is any emotional or physical therapy used to “cure” or “repair” a person’s attraction to the same sex, or their gender identity and expression. Providers claim these therapies can make someone heterosexual or “straight.” But there’s no evidence to support this.
Medical and mental health experts have rejected conversion therapy practices as dangerous and discriminatory for decades. It not only doesn’t work, but could also lead to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Drug use
- Homelessness
- Suicide
What Does Conversion Therapy Look Like?
It can range from psychotherapy (talk therapy) to medical and faith-based methods that can be emotional or physical.
Another commonly used method is called “aversion therapy.” In this practice, people are exposed to painful or uncomfortable sensations like electric shocks and nausea- or paralysis-causing drugs. This is done in hopes of forming a negative association with the person’s attractions or identity to “correct” it.
Faith-based. In some religious practices, homosexuality and other forms of gender expression and identity are sometimes viewed as “evil.” Conversion therapy is sometimes performed by clergy or other spiritual advisers. It may include using anti-gay slurs and prayers. In severe cases, it could also include beating, shackling, food deprivation, and even exorcism.
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed “gender identity disorder” from its diagnostic manual. The APA now refers to conversion therapy techniques as “sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE)” or “gender identity change efforts (GICE).” It coined the terms to differentiate from evidence-based forms of therapy. But providers, usually unlicensed, can often disguise the terms they use to avoid being found.
Which Places Have Banned Conversion Therapy?
So far, 26 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have banned or limited the use of conversion therapy, especially for youths under 18.Globally, around 13 countries have some ban or regulations against licensed mental health experts practicing conversion therapy, including Brazil, Norway, Argentina, and Germany.
What Is Conversion Therapy?
