Conversion therapy

Conversion therapy
ClaimsOne's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression can be changed to fit heterosexual, heteroromantic, and cisgender norms.
Notable proponentsEx-gay movement
(Overview of pseudoscientific concepts)

Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms.[1] Methods that have been used to this end include forms of brain surgery, surgical or hormonal castration, aversive treatments such as electric shocks, nausea-inducing drugs, hypnosis, counseling, spiritual interventions, visualization, psychoanalysis, and arousal reconditioning.

There is a scientific consensus that conversion therapy is ineffective at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and that it frequently causes significant long-term psychological harm.[2] The position of current evidence-based medicine and clinical guidance is that homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender variance are natural and healthy aspects of human sexuality.[2][3]

Historically, conversion therapy was the treatment of choice for individuals who disclosed same-sex attractions or exhibited gender nonconformity, which were formerly assumed to be pathologies by the medical establishment.[3] When performed today, conversion therapy may constitute fraud and when performed on minors, a form of child abuse; it has been described by experts as torture; cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and contrary to human rights.

An increasing number of jurisdictions around the world have passed laws against conversion therapy.[4]

  1. ^ Fenaughty, John; Tan, Kyle; Ker, Alex; Veale, Jaimie; Saxton, Peter; Alansari, Mohamed (January 2023). "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts for Young People in New Zealand: Demographics, Types of Suggesters, and Associations with Mental Health". Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 52 (1): 149–164. doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01693-3. ISSN 0047-2891. PMC 9813061. PMID 36301377.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Haldeman 2022, p. 5.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Drescher was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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