1 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth

The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling

LGBTQ Youth
By Aaron Kreider April 2
nd
, 2014
.
Introduction
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Queer/Questioning
(LGBTQ) teens, are three times more
likely to seriously consider suicide
than all other teens. [1] This
consideration rate is four times
higher than other teens if these teens
are from highly rejecting families
(families which do not support the
act of homosexuality and/or gender transition for moral, religious, or other reasons). [2]
However, conversion therapy has been a growing tactic to tackle homosexual thoughts,
feelings, and acts. Since the early 1900s, homosexual men and women have been
subjecting themselves to therapies that come with the promise of being able to change
their sexuality. [3] The results of such therapies, however, are generally unsuccessful.
Conversion therapy is a myriad of techniques that many psychologists say relies
on a pseudoscience. [4] These therapies are based on little, if any, scientific evidence
and have extremely low success rates. Most conversion therapies have about a 30%
success rate and of those who are successful in transitioning from homosexual to
2 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
heterosexual, 60% revert to homosexuality at one point in their lives. [5] These
conversion therapies can lead to self-hatred, depression, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts,
reversion into asexuality (a sexuality in which one asserts they do not feel a sexual
attraction to any gender or sex and have no desire to engage in sexual intercourse or
contact), and other adverse effects. [6]
In more recent times, these conversion therapies have been referred to as
reparative therapies, further implying that something is broken within the
homosexual man or woman. [7] And while many LGBTQ youth have been able to accept
their differences from mainstream society, some are left with no other choices. Some
LGBTQ youth from rejecting homes are forced into going to these conversion therapies
as an attempt to change basic human features that many psychologists argue are not of
mental elements. [8] This subjugation to conversion therapy against the youths wishes
can have even more adverse effects than elective therapy.
In this paper, we will look at the negative effects conversion therapy can have on
LGBTQ youth. For purposes of research, we will be depending on negative effects
inflicted upon all of those who have undergone conversion therapynot solely those who
have been forced into such practices. Such research is more abundant than those who
have been forced into conversion therapy by guardians, places of employment, or other
outside factors. We will be looking at the lack of government policy thus far, which
includes no regulation for administration techniques, as well as to whom the therapies
may be administered. We will also be proposing a law modeled after New Jerseys bill,
A-3371, in which physicians and psychologists are unable to perform conversion therapy
to minors (people under the age of 18). Such a law prevents LGBTQ youth from being
3 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
forced into these reparative techniques, and thusly, less likely to be subjected to the
adverse effects.
.
Current Conversion Therapy Policies
Currently, only two states have enacted laws that protect LGBTQ youth from
being subjected to conversion therapy: California and New Jersey. [9] All other states
have absolutely no laws regulating in what manner or to whom such reparative therapies
are administered. While later on in this paper we will discuss the harmful effects these
conversion therapies can have on LGBTQ youth, we will presently be discussing the lack
of government regulation when it comes to such therapeutic techniques.
Conversion therapies can cover a range of techniques when it comes to
methodology. These methods vary from a wide array of spectrumsfrom time period, to
geographical location, to chosen psychotherapist. In this section, we will divide
conversion techniques by era: pre and post declassification as mental illness. This
simply means that we will look at therapeutic techniques before and after the 1973
decision by The American Psychological Association which determined that
homosexuality was not a psychological disease or habit.
Pre-declassification Period
Pre-declassification methods were largely psychoanalytic and based on the idea
that homosexuality was pathological and undesirablemeaning one could not live a
happy life while also engaging in homoeroticism. [10] These techniques varied wildly
and were not at all regulated by government policy. Such approaches tried to find a
causal event in the homosexuals life that transitioned them from heterosexuality to
4 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
homosexuality. Once such causal event was thought to be determined, doctor and patient
would proceed with psychoanalytic therapies in order to convince patient that they were
truly heterosexual, or deal with the causal event with some other therapeutic technique.
[11] However, there were many other aggressive techniques that were backed by little to
no empirical evidence. Shock therapy was one of the largely popular techniques for
conversion therapy. In conversion shock therapy, the genitals of homosexual men and
women were electrocuted. [12] There were also procedures in which men or women were
administered nausea-inducing drugs while homoerotic pornography was presented to the
patient. [13] Another aggressive technique was referred to as masturbatory
reconditioning. In some of these reconditioning therapies, homosexuals were asked to
masturbate both themselves and someone of the opposite sex. More common, however,
were instances in which an individual was asked to masturbate while watching
heterosexual pornography. [14] Another technique was the administration of estrogen to
homosexual males in order to lower their libido. [15] This was a technique that was
drastically unsuccessful. In the rare cases that the homosexual mans libido did go down
or extinguish, he did not transition to heterosexuality.
Post-declassification Period
Post-declassification techniques are quite commonly referred to as pray the gay
away techniques. However, many techniques are not religious in basis. This is not to say
that there are no religious-oriented practices, or that the largest supporters of reparative
therapies are not religious in nature. Although generally less aggressive than pre-
declassification era techniques, residual approaches remain. For instance, some
psychotherapists still promote masturbatory reconditioning. [16] But post-declassification
5 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
approaches are more talk-therapy oriented. [17] These therapies, while less aggressive,
can still have the adverse effects that pre-declassification period therapies had. In
essence, they still shame the patient for being homosexual, which is the root of the
emotional trauma incurred. However, the plethora of treatments is only indicative of the
lack of government regulation. It is symbolic of a trial-and-error methodology that has
gone unaccounted for by policy. It illustrates that government has let this failing practice
go unaccounted forespecially for LGBTQ minors.
.
The Effects and Effectiveness of Conversion Therapy
While groups like Exodus International and the National Association for Research
and Therapy of Homosexuality have issued claims that conversion therapy has helped
tens of thousands of patients, there is little empirical evidence to back these claims.
[18] And while organizations that support conversion therapy techniques claim that
individuals live happy and healthy lives, more often than not, LGBTQ people are left
with a sense of helplessness, anxiety, and depression.
Many young LGBTQ people have expressed heightened levels suicidal thoughts
or actions. [19] In fact, the American Psychological Association recently came out with a
statement about conversion therapy which supports such claims: 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 the American Psychological
Association opposes any treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is
6 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
based on the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based on a
prior assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual orientation. [20]
Joseph Nicolosi, of the National Association for Research and Therapy of
Homosexuality, published a paper entitled Retrospective Self-Reports of Changes in
Homosexual Orientation: A Consumer Survey of Conversion Therapy Clients, in which
claims were made that of 882 patients, only 305 (35.1%) Continued to view their
orientation [as homosexual.] [21] However, this statistic was met with criticism. In fact,
a closer look at the study indicated that only about 30% of the LGBTQ people who had
responded to the survey indicated that they had been converted fully from homosexuality
to heterosexualityas opposed to the 65% that Nicolosi claimed. [22]
.
A Proposed Solution
In August 2013 Republican Governor, Chris Christie, signed a New Jersey bill
that banned LGBTQ conversion therapy from being administered to people under the age
7 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
of 18. [23] The billknown as A-3371prohibits any licensed psychologists or
psychiatrists from administering conversion therapy techniques to minors in order to
prevent LGBTQ youth from experiencing the all too common adverse effects of
conversion therapy against their will. This bill was proposed and signed as a social
statement to make the public aware of just how damaging conversion therapy can be
emotionally and socially.
If there were to be a federal law enacted to prevent all LGBTQ youth from being
exposed to such conversion therapies, many youth would not have to face the negative
repercussions of coming out to their families. LGBTQ youth would not be forced into
going to therapies performed by licensed psychologists that have no empirical proof that
these reparative therapies are successful. Rejecting families would be forced to deal with
an LGBTQ member in a more positive way, rather than making them clearly aware that
their identity is not accepted. This can have an astounding effect on the LGBTQ rights
movement as a whole.
Because such laws are so new in concept, there is little scientific data to prove just
how effective they have been to influence the positivity in LGBTQ lives. Instead of
quantitative evidence, we look to qualitative. Numerous testimonials have come out since
these laws have been enacted by LGBTQ youth. Many LGBTQ youth have expressed a
sigh of relief with the newfound laws. [24]
We propose these laws only apply to minors for a few reasons. First, many
LGBTQ adults still elect to undergo these therapies without force or coercion. There are
reports of LGBTQ people well within their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are unhappy with the
homosexual lifestyle they have been living. [25] Many LGBTQ people elect to undergo
8 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
these therapies and thusly the adverse effects are a product of their own decisions. While
this does not alleviate the severity of psychological damages, it does protect
psychologists First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. [26] This leads to the
second reason. Psychologists who support reparative therapies have argued that such laws
infringe upon this Constitutional right. However, with the law reaching only to minors
with the purpose of protecting them from the adverse effectsthe law does not
inherently infringe upon the freedom of speech. [27]
.
What can you do to help?
On petitions.whitehouse.gov there is a feature with which citizens can create
petitions. Should a petition get 100,000 signatures, the Whitehouse must offer a statement
regarding the progress and review of the petition. Currently, there is a petition to create a
federal law that will ban all states from allowing psychotherapists to perform conversion
therapies on minors. You can help the movement by signing this petition. Just go to
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/propose-federal-law-banning-use-conversion-
therapy-all-lgbtqia-people-under-age-18/KtscYw1l to help start a movement. You may
think that your voice is small, but you can save lives by signing this petition.
.
Conclusion
Reparative and conversion therapies are psychologically damaging. The suicide
rate for LGBTQ youth is far higher than it should be and something must be done.
Rejecting families need to understand that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or
queer is a natural, biological aspect of life. With the laws proposed in this brief, we can
9 Kreider / The Effects of Conversion Therapy on Unwilling LGBTQ Youth
put an end to a significant institution that shames young LGBTQ people. The lack of
governmental policy regarding these practices is concerning and something must be done.
Take a stance on LGBTQ rights, and maybe one day conversion will no longer be seen as
a prerogative. Perhaps one day, LGBTQ people will be wholly accepting of their sexual
identity.