Outlaw Conversion Therapy
An estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to the dangers of conversion therapy in the coming years if state officials fail to act.
Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The "therapists" within this practice use methods of emotionally traumatic or physically painful stimuli as to force their victims to associate their feelings with this pain. It is premised on the notion that LGBTQ identities should be classified as mental illnesses, despite medical associations' agreement that these identities are normal variants in human nature.
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The American Psychiatric Association has clarified that “the potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient.”
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Conversion "therapy" laws prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBTQ minors to harmful practices that attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. As of 2020, only 20 U.S. states have state laws that ban the use of conversion therapy for minors and only 48% of the LGBTQ community live in these "safe" states.
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The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. They also have groups dedicated to speaking with state legislatures about the topic of laws banning the practice of conversion therapy.
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