It’s not new news that there’s a battle being fought for patients rights, particularly for LGBTQ individuals. I’ve written about the dangers of conversion therapies before. With the recent legislative action in Mississippi and Tennessee, and with more states currently considering similar bills it’s important that we continue to discuss this issue.
A growing number of organizations have issued statements against conversion and reparative therapies. A list of these positions has been compiled by the Human Rights Coalition. Perhaps the most to the point is the position of The Just The Facts Coalition, a joint educational effort of a number of professional organizations:
“The most important fact about ‘reparative therapy,’ also sometimes known as ‘conversion’ therapy, is that it is based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of Social Workers, together representing more than 477,000 health and mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus there is no need for a ‘cure.’”
The World Psychiatric Association, the largest organization for psychiatrists, also released a statement condemning conversion therapies and calling on governments for regulations. The WPA has also taken an additional step in placing a clear directive upon its members to actively advocate and take measures to prevent discrimination.
“Psychiatrists have a social responsibility to advocate for a reduction in social inequalities for all individuals, including inequalities related to gender identity and sexual orientation,”
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