Anti-Gay Therapy

The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to

Conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, or Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE) has a troubled history within the United States and abroad. Conversion therapy is the use of a variety of means to attempt to change an individual’s sexual or gender orientation. Current practices include inducing vomiting or paralysis while showing a subject homoerotic images, having a subject snap a rubber band on their wrist whenever they have certain thoughts, or using tactics to create shame or aversion to same sex or transgender thoughts. Many established institutes claim that the therapy does or doesn't work and offer contradicting evidence for their position. The Movement Advancement Project, a group dedicated to providing research for the advancement of LGBT people, states in an infographic that nine states, plus the District of Columbia and a handful of municipalities have banned conversion therapy from being provided by licensed medical professionals to minors (“Kids” 1). Based on the established evidence and the overwhelming number of psychologists and sociologist that disavow conversion therapy, along with the multitude of horror stories from children who were persuaded, or forced, to participate by their parents, the federal government should ban conversion therapy for all minors.

Christianity and Judaism also have large groups that support the therapy. The religious purpose of Christian conversion groups are literally just to keep gays from having the same rights as anyone else. Mike Davidson, is a well known gay conversion therapist, and in April 2015, he has an interview with BBC News’ Victoria Derbyshire, and conversion therapy victim, Patrick Strudwick. When asked about how many people he had converted in a year, he deflected the question a lot, but eventually admitted to only have ‘converted’ three people. It is very difficult and rare to find people who have truly been converted to gay or not. Conversion therapy forces the incorrect principle that LGBT youth are wrong for being who they are, which Christian and Judaism organizations do not realize. In 2015, one of the largest jewish gay conversion therapy groups, JONAH, was shut down under a New Jersey law signed by Chris Christie. JONAH was also made to pay $3.5 million in legal fees in an attempt to ‘apologize’ for the damage they caused. JONAH also had a letter in 2012 signed by 200 jewish rabbis that stated they were in support of the conversion therapy movement. In response, the director of a large jewish LGBT group said that he and many others were fearful if the debate about conversion therapy could be discussed logically again under the new U.S. government. There are, of course, the people in

Homophobia has been an uprising issue since the 80s, and it needs to be stopped before it gets more out of hand. Homophobia has been the motive behind various crimes; in just the US alone. One of the various crimes was the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando.(Attaiah) wrote after an interview with the shooter's father, “Mateenn(shooter) had seen two men kissing and was instantly enraged by what he saw.” The fact that someone's sexual preference is the cause of a mass shooting shows how homophobia is a major problem here in the US. Another issue with homophobia is that it is driving a vast amount of teens to suicide. Suicide rates have increased drastically for members of the LGBTQ community. (WONG) “Suicide rates amongst gay youths are devastating. With suicide becoming a far too common way “out” of unbearable homophobic condition.” Not only suicide in general, but there has been a trend of gay youths killing themselves because it is the only way “out”. Fortunately, a man by the name of Dan Savage is trying to help with that. He has created a project by the name of “It gets better project” which is for gay, lesbian, or Transgenders to have a “safe place”.

Being a teen in today’s society is hard all by its self. From getting bullied about what you wear or worrying about not having enough food to eat. But for those teens who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered there is a whole new door of problems that is opened up. They are made to feel alone, like no one loves them, or as if they need to change. And it is understandable for them to want to change when there are things like reparative therapy in today’s world. “The potential risks of conversion therapy are great, including depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, and sometimes reinforced self-hatred” (Meyer). For most people homosexuality is not a choice, therefore it cannot be changed. Trying to get people to change by making them feel insignificant is the number one way conversion therapy works. Patients are told that if does not work it is because they did not try hard enough. This fact alone can hurt a person’s self-esteem and make them want to commit suicide. Not to mention the fact that some of these gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered teens feel rejected

Banning these therapies allows professional, trained therapists help others be more comfortable with themselves. Also, it would help limit the amount of young teens being forced to change and help homosexual and transgender people not have such a large risk of depression or other confidence issues. If conversion therapies are continued to be allowed in the United States, more of these problems will arise and it may be too late to fix them. As Leelah Alcorn wrote in her suicide note, “[if you are] against transgender people don’t ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won’t do anything but make them hate them self. That’s exactly what it did to me” (“Suicide Note”). Though conversion therapy is not the main cause of suicide among teens, it obviously plays a big role. People need to see and understand that being homosexual, transgender, or anything in between is not an illness and no one should have to change for someone else. It’s time that the United States come together to start accepting everyone for who they

64% of LGBT students in American schools have felt unsafe while at school because of their sexual orientation. If you’re well-versed in the history of civil rights in the United States, you know that LGBT individuals have been discriminated against and attacked in this country for hundreds of years. Only in the summer of 2015 were same-sex marriages legal. Even now, in 2017, most LGBT individuals are not protected from employment and housing discrimination. “Conversion” or “reparative” therapy is still legal in 46 states. Not only is conversion therapy harmful to the patient and their families, it is not effective. It is a violation of child and human rights.

In light of the 2016 election, there have been some question as to weather or not conversion therapy is a suitable and ethical practice. Conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy or ex-gay therapy, is used to try and change a persons sexual orientation and/or a persons gender identity. United states President Donald J. Trump has not yet said anything about his views on the matter, however, Vice-President elect Mike Pence has ‘advocated diverting taxpayer dollars to so-called conversion therapy’ and stated, during one of the republican debates, "Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.” (Chris Nichols- Politifact) He also supported reparative therapy when he started to run for congress in 2000. Conversion therapy, unlike many other therapies, can be extremely harmful to a person, especially a minor’s, mental health and self esteem; Therefor, conversion therapy should be illegal in all 50 states because it puts lgbtq+ youth at a greater risk of experiencing high levels of depression and suicide, is often biased to fit one set of religious beliefs and is ‘unethical’.

There is an arising topic in today’s generation and many teens and adults are facing challenges that are unthinkable to anyone else. These individuals are going through the challenge of determining their gender identity. Matters similar to this is the debate surrounding conversion therapy and how this LGBT communities are treated. Conversion therapy or reparative therapy is defined as by Oxford dictionaries as “psychotherapy aimed at changing a person’s homosexuality and based on the view that homosexuality is a mental disorder” (Oxford University Press, 2016). There has been much attention revolving around conversion therapy due to its safety and ethically questionable methods such as electroshock therapy and ice pick

Intolerance impacts multiple sectors of society with far-reaching effects on the gay community. Due to the amount of intolerance in society these days, the gay community is facing persecution. Verbal abuse, physical violence and hate crimes are some effects of persecution against gay people. The verbal abuse is often a way to discriminate against people for their sexual orientation. Verbal abuse has a big impact on the victim’s life. The victim may feel unsure and isolated. Also, bullying and bashing are very common ways to persecute against a person who is gay. Gay bashing and bullying include negative attitudes that leads homophobic people to

Having a platonic relationship with the same-sex isn’t always easy due to the fears a heterosexual may have when they have homosexual friends. Sometimes the lack of same-sex friends can allow for one to often feel isolated. Carl Charles, a survivor of conversion therapy, once was told by his pastor “you think Jesus wants you to be a dyke? You think Jesus died so you can march down the street with all your faggot friends?” (Charles) This so-called “therapy” made Carl feel isolated:  “I couldn’t tell my friends, and adults I thought I could trust” (Charles). Not only is isolation one of the effects of conversion therapy but an APA study done in 2009 concluded that “ depression, guilt, helplessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality and self-blame” are risks taken when enacting in the therapy. The study also concluded that these “risks are even greater for youth. Minors who experience family rejection based on their

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a Christian minister’s challenge to California’s ban on “gay conversion” therapy, upholding a lower court’s ruling that the ban was constitutional.

Do you want your homosexual to be destined to go to Hell? Are you afraid that your child will infect the other heterosexuals with his or her gayness? As the head leader of a program called “Pray Away the Gays”, I can guarantee your child will understand how to change from a homosexual to a heterosexual. It is known that in one unit, one out of two kids will be homosexual. In addition, in this world today, less than half of the population is known to be a heterosexual citizen. If you join this program, we will go through the processes to make your child revert back to what the Lord desires – a normal human being.

Nearly 26 per cent of GLBT youth are forced to leave their homes due to disputes concerning sexual orientation. This leaves the youth feeling isolated and unaccepted by the family. Often, teens believe running away is the only option. It makes teens feel like they have some control of their situation (Quinn, 2002). If GLBT teens seek refuge in a shelter will they meet the same discrimination and rejection they initially were trying to escape? Counselors at shelters need to be prepared to protect, and not perpetuate, these GLBT teens from further victimization.

Homosexuality is currently a huge concern in our nation nowadays. Most people objected this kind of unusual relationship because they felt weird if humans were sexually attracted towards the same gender which they were. Besides, some even thought that having sexual relationship with the same gender is a kind of detestable sin towards their own beliefs and god. Dr. Gregory Herek of UC Davis (N.D) which is a psychologist demanded that homosexuality is a choice that needs to be understood by people without using scientific disputes. There are theories about brain studies and the social environment is contributing to the development of homosexuality, but yet no scientific evidence is able to conclude homosexuality .There were a few