Transformative Essay: Conversion Therapy And Discrimination

The study that provides evidence that conversion therapy is both ineffective and harmful is provided by the American Psychological Association (APA) in a report entitled, Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. The report concluded that, "efforts to change sexual

“The central problem of the conversion theory ....is that it does not describe the way we typify our experiences of painful art....If the overall experience of an artwork is described as painful, then the conversion theory is simply not applicable to that work.”

Sexuality and gender identity issues have had a long history in the fields of mental health and public policy. There has been much debate surrounding the inclusion of issues related to gender and sexual identity in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual since its initial stages of development (Drescher, 2010). Debates in this field of interest have been fragmented between several stakeholders (Ehrbar, 2010). This fragmentation has created complications in the process of developing United States policies that are inclusive of individuals with gender identities that do not match the gender to which they were assigned at birth. Specifically, policies surrounding gender reassignment surgeries have been difficult to develop and

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.

Electroconvulsive shock therapy, copper heating wires and mind altering drugs seem like something straight out of a terrifying horror film, but these are all painful realities for some victims of conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is also known as reparative therapy, and is the widespread practice of trying to change the sexuality of gay men and women all over the world. It is an inhumane process that only hurts patients. Gay conversion therapy is a horrifying term used to rationalize physical torture, psychological damage and systematic oppression towards the LGBT community that needs to be banned.

For a long time, the minority of silent and ignored homosexuals has had to face and cross over not only internal fears, doubts and shame, but also the external fears of the risk of disapproval, rejection and maybe even death. Such fears stem from the widely-held belief that homosexual acts are abnormal behaviors as a symptom of a mental disease. As a consequence, this preconception, along with the displeasure with the idea of homosexuality, leads many families who have gay or lesbian children to seek a “cure” for what are called “unnatural” impulses. The afflicted individuals might suffer numerous methods of sexual reorientation therapy. However, considering the characteristics of a disease, homosexuality should not be considered as such if

The goal of conversion therapy is to change a patient’s sexual orientation or the gender that they identify with using an array of techniques, extending as far as procedures like shock therapy.This pseudoscience is based on the belief that a person learns homosexual or transgender behavior. Conversion therapy holds no proof of efficacy, but what it does hold is evidence of psychological harm to patients. With no scientific support for the practice, it has been discredited by nearly all major psychological associations.

Conversion therapy is a term used to designate an array of counseling techniques designed to effect a shift in sexual preference (Throckmorton, 2005). Reports of patients seem to show positive results from treatment, even if there is no change in sexual orientation (Slife, 2004). Those who request conversion therapy often do so because of conflict between their homosexual feelings and the culture surrounding them. Counselors who practice conversion therapy attempt to understand the cultural background of clients who have deep conflicts over sexual impulses and deeply held moral convictions. Counselors are required to inform clients of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations and

An individual’s sexuality should not define who they are as a person. What is Conversion Therapy? Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy has a range of treatments that are designed in hopes to turn a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. Conversion therapy is also used in attempts to convert a transgender person’s gender expression to match with the gender given at birth. It is currently banned for minors in 5 states (California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Illinois) and the other 45 states have no law against it. Many teens in this current time period are coming out as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer. Homosexuality is often seen as a negative effect towards society.

Because these feelings of self-hatred and the attitudes from others toward the LGBT community are so strong, many people are put into “reparative” therapies in order to “cure” them from their condition of homosexuality. The majority of therapies that people go through are extremely unpleasant and the American Psychological Association states, “there have been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation is safe or effective.” (Sutton 11). However, many institutions still partake in these controversial therapies. The means by which certain people are treated is inhumane, and can worsen the ideology of inferiority and self-devaluation. While some therapies seem pleasant, such as prayer and meditation, some of the most controversial means of therapy include Prostitution, Hypnosis, Exorcism, Fetal Intervention, Electroconvulsive Therapy, and Genital Mutilation. None of the aforementioned therapy methods are without harm. These

Conversion therapy is affecting the LGBTQ+ community greatly. Conversion therapy can be defined as “psychological interventions, from behavioral methods to psychoanalytic approaches” to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity (Hadelman, pg. 202, 2002). This treatment has been proven to not work as well as having harmful implications to LGBTQ+ people.

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

al., 2013, p. 253). With treatments such as “professional therapy and paraprofessional/religious ministry contexts”, Sanders and his colleagues report that thirty percent of those who participated in this form of therapy achieved “positive outcomes” (2013, p. 255). Although critics to changing one’s sexual orientation claim that there are many factors that limit the support of the research proving the success of this treatment option, Sanders states that there is data supporting successful conversions (2013, p. 255).

Despite the common misconception, it is impossible to “become” or “turn” gay. It is not a cold someone can catch by being near a gay person, and it is most definitely not a consequence of bad parenting or failed relationships. Yet, people still refuse to listen, and conversion therapy still exists. This “therapy” is meant to get rid of homosexuality in an individual through extreme methods but in reality, it only brings harm and trauma to the person in question. While some do believe conversion therapy works and is necessary in order to get rid of homosexuality, the truth is, it is a discriminating act that must be eradicated.

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