Obama Speaks Out Against Conversion Therapies for Minors

So-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapies—practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity—made headlines last month when President Obama issued a statement calling for such practices to be banned.

The official White House statement was posted in response to a petition created after 17-year-old transgender youth Leelah Alcorn died by suicide following what she reported were efforts by her therapist to convert her back into a boy. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president, wrote, “As part of our dedication to protecting America’s youth, this administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors.”

APA has long spoken out against reparative therapies, which are at odds with APA’s position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder. In a 1998 position statement, the Association first went on record as opposing “any psychiatric treatment, such as ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy, that is based on the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or is based on the a priori assumption that the patient should change his or her homosexual orientation.” Then, in a 2000 position statement, the Association reaffirmed its opposition, noting that there were “sparse scientific data about selection criteria, risks versus benefits of the treatment, and long-term outcomes of ‘reparative’ therapies.”

“It is gratifying to see the president of the United States agreeing with APA that these are problematic practices,” Jack Drescher, M.D., who served as a member of APA’s DSM-5 Work Group on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders and has written about conversion therapy for the past 20 years, told Psychiatric News. “It is a good thing that the president is drawing attention to the harms associated with these practices.

“People who try conversion therapies usually invest a great deal of time, energy, money, and faith in techniques that have no efficacy. Yet, they are told by the ‘therapists’ that success depends mainly on them—their motivation and faith,” Drescher continued. “Consequently, when the treatment fails, as most do, they usually blame themselves. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.”

While Drescher noted that there is no way of knowing just how common the practice of conversion therapy is today, there has been recent movement at the state level to outlaw the treatment. California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have banned licensed professionals from using conversion therapy on minors, and 18 others have introduced similar legislation since last year. “My understanding is that part of the goal of the recent White House statement is to offer support of these bills, where they are being introduced,” Drescher said.

“While a national ban would require congressional action, we are hopeful that the clarity of the evidence combined with the actions taken by these states will lead to broader action that this administration would support,” Jarrett wrote.

“We applaud President Obama for his principled and scientific stand,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “LGBT individuals deserve treatment, when they seek it, that meets the highest standard of evidence, and APA has long recognized that so-called reparative therapy doesn’t meet that standard and can, in fact, be hazardous. We are pleased that the White House shares our concern about this issue, and we support the president’s call for a ban on reparative therapy.” ■

APA’s 2000 position statement on reparative or conversion therapies can be accessed here. The official White House response to the petition titled “Enact Leelah’s Law to Ban All LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy” is available here.