FAQ about conversion “therapy”

What is conversion “therapy”?

Conversion “therapy” is known by many terms, including ex-gay therapy, sexual orientation change efforts/gender identity change efforts (SOCE/GICE), reparative therapy, and therapy for those experiencing same sex attraction (SSA). Some refer to it simply as torture because of the harmful techniques practiced and negative long-term consequences. 

So what does it look like?

Conversion “therapy” consists of methods (e.g., behavioral techniques, psychoanalytic techniques, medical approaches, religious and spiritual approaches) that aim to change a person’s same-sex sexual orientation to other-sex or gender identity to align with their sex assigned at birth, regardless of whether mental health professionals or lay individuals (including religious professionals, religious leaders, social groups, and other lay networks, such as self-help groups) are involved. Adapted from the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation report (2009).

Prevalence of Conversion therapy in the South.

• Roughly 1 in 10 sexual and gender minorities in the southern United States have undergone conversion therapy (Higbee et al., 2022)

• People in the south who identify as a gender minority, gay, lesbian, or Hispanic are more likely to have undergone conversion therapy (Higbee et al., 2022)

• Survivors of conversion therapy in the south reported worse mental health outcomes compared to those who had never undergone the treatment (Higbee et al., 2022)

• Associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation among survivors (Blosnich et al., 2020 ; Turban et al., 2020)

Prevalence of Conversion therapy in the U.S.

• 6.7% of LGB adults ages 18-59 have undergone CT nationwide

• 13.5% of trans* adults ages 18-59 report a professional tried to stop them from being trans*

  • Including ~14-16% of trans* adults in Tennessee

• ~698,000 LGBT adults ages 18-59 have undergone CT

  • ~Half underwent CT prior to age 18

• ~16,000 LGBT youth ages 13-17 will undergo CT from a licensed healthcare professional in the 32 states where still legal prior to age 18

• ~57,000 LGBT youth ages 13-17 will undergo CT from religious or spiritual advisers prior to age 18

• Mallory, C., Brown, T. N. T., & Conron, K. J. (2018). Conversion Therapy and Lgbt Youth Executive Summary

But… there is some good news

• ~10,000 LGBT youth ages 13-17 will NOT undergo CT from a licensed healthcare professional in the 18 states where it is now illegal prior to age 18

• BUT unfortunately, those laws do not apply to religious leaders

• 56% of U.S. adults believe that it should be ILLEGAL for mental health practitioners to practice CT on minors

  • Only 18% say it should be legal.

• Mallory, C., Brown, T. N. T., & Conron, K. J. (2018). Conversion Therapy and Lgbt Youth Executive Summary
   

Can any type of therapy change a person’s Sexual orientation and/or gender identity?

NO.

Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (2009).

In 2009, the American Psychological Association conducted a thorough review of the published literature on such practices and determined that no reliable evidence exists to support them. In fact, the APA found the results of scientifically valid research indicate it is unlikely that individuals will be able to reduce same-sex sexual attractions or increase other-sex attractions through SOCE. “Efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm”.

Read the report here.

International Resources on Conversion Therapy

“It’s Torture not Therapy” - International REhabilitation Council For torture Victims. Read The Report Here.