In Theory: Should conversion therapy be banned?
The Obama administration on Wednesday spoke out against the use of “conversion therapy” on minors, the Los Angeles Times reports. The practice involves a mental health professional trying to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity.
“The overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm,” said Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama.
The statement came in response to an online petition started on the White House’s website and has gathered more than 120,000 signatures since it started Jan. 3. The petition itself started days after Leelah Alcorn, a transgender 17-year-old, committed suicide. In her suicide note, Alcorn wrote that among the steps her parents took, she was taken to a religious therapist who refused to accept her identity as a girl.
Medical groups have also come out against conversion therapy in the past.
“Since homosexuality is not a disorder or a disease, it does not require a cure,” the director of the Pan American Health Organization said in 2012, adding that conversion therapy represents “a serious threat to the health and well-being — even the lives — of affected people.”
California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have banned conversion therapy on minors, while 18 other states have introduced similar legislation, the Times reports.
Q. What do you think of conversion therapy, whether on minors or adults? Do you believe there should be a national ban, which requires congressional action?
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Conversion is a good thing. The Bible teaches that we all need to be converted. In Acts 15:3, Paul and Barnabas described “in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.” In Psalm 51:13 David proclaimed: “I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.” Even Jesus said: “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
The Bible teaches us that God is the One Who must convert us. That is, in order to be reconciled to God, the sinful nature with which we are all born must be changed by him through what Jesus called being “born again.” God desires this for every person because he loves us more than we can ever fully fathom.
So let’s apply these truths to the concept of “conversion therapy” for minors who struggle with homosexuality. Above all else, they must be constantly reassured that God loves them just as they are. They will always have worth and value because of his love, regardless of how they respond to his love and his commands in the Bible. This is the primary message of Christianity. God gave his son Jesus for every one of us. But these youths must also know the truth of God’s plan for sexuality, which he exclusively reserves for the monogamous marriage of one man and one woman. God knows we will never be perfect in obedience, or even in our desires, this side of eternity. But he does require that we have hearts that are inclined toward him, and wills that at the core desire to please him.
There should not be a ban on “conversion therapy.” But those who encourage conversion to God’s ways must be sure to do so in the most loving and careful way possible with people in extremely sensitive and difficult conditions.
Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank
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Yes, I believe conversion therapy is bad and should be banned by an act of Congress. While nobody really knows why homosexuality exists, neither does anybody have the right to try to change those who consider themselves gay.
We have come a long way in our society in accepting so many things that are different from the norm. I can still remember radio commercials on black stations which pushed hair-straightening gel! Can you believe that? At one time, being black was considered so far off the mark that some black people were even conned into buying a product which would make their hair more like that of Caucasian folks than African folks!
So many of us bought into the idea that being different was wrong. I think most of American society is over that kind of thinking… with some notable exceptions. But even the idea of conversion therapy regresses to the idea that you aren’t like me, so I am going to change you to becoming like me… wrong approach!
If those of you who consider yourself “religious” and you need some “cover,” consider Jesus. He welcomed the marginalized, the shunned, those considered the dregs of society. If that isn’t welcoming the different or the other, I don’t know what is.
Probably my favorite story that Jesus told was the parable or story of the Good Samaritan. Those listening to the story could not even imagine that a Samaritan could be good, and yet the hated Samaritan was the “star” of the story.
Welcome the different. Embrace the different. They are creatures of God every bit as much as you are. “Conversion therapy” — don’t make me laugh!
The Rev. Skip Lindeman
La Cañada Congregational Church
La Cañada Flintridge
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Conversion therapy as I understand it is at least invasive and at most abusive. But I don’t think a national law is necessary.
As any “mandated” reporter of child abuse will tell you, abuse is anything from verbal to physical. These extreme techniques to change a person to heterosexuality certainly fall into this category. As regards adults being exposed to the same level of “convincing” assault, according to the law, is any situation where a threat has been issued that the recipient of that threat takes seriously. I dare say, the threat of conversion therapy goes to one’s soul and may lead to abuse of that person’s body, which turns the activity from assault to assault and battery.
Either level of attempted “change” violates Genesis 1:24, “Let the Earth bring forth the living creature after its own kind,” and Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image. Male and female created he them.” How limiting of God to believe that the image of God, whether male or female, is only heterosexual!
Rabbi Mark Sobel
Temple Beth Emet
Burbank
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I think conversion “therapy” is a grotesque, cruel and ignorant perversion of the word. Of course it should not be allowed to happen to either minors or adults.
Do we need a new law banning it? Aren’t these therapists licensed? Surely the regulation process includes a pledge of the “first do no harm” sort, a la the Hippocratic oath. They should lose their license if caught foisting this evil practice on patients. And if these so-called therapists aren’t licensed, why are they allowed to practice at all?
But if none of this gets rid of conversion, by all means let’s bring on a Congressional ban.
Another thought I have is how sad and puzzling it is that these people who hate gays so much that they support this hideous, sick activity are Christians. Presumably they believe that humans are God’s creation, made in the image of the divine. Apparently not the gay ones. What’s up with that?
Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose
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The representatives speaking against conversion therapy presume too much: first that sexual abnormalities are not disorders; secondly that therapy cannot work; and thirdly that it is more ethical and less harmful to a teenager’s well-being to cut off his penis, medically insert artificial breasts and pump him full of laboratory estrogen than to work on bringing his mind into agreement with his natural plumbing.
I think it atrocious that adults would further facilitate the unnatural pursuit of changing the person’s sexual identity, which they hypocritically ridicule the other side for doing. It is not the people who advocate counseling a confused youth regarding his natural biology that are forcing a change in sexual identity, it is this politically biased contingency that think they are preserving sexual identity in a person through surgery, hormone treatment, and changing their name from Bruce to Belinda. Nobody who goes through such artificiality is considered by anyone to have really changed their gender. We all just smile and act cordial, and recognize deep down that this person has psychological issues and has been permanently mutilated physically. Such may wish to be considered “she,” despite having been born “he,” but it doesn’t fly when he who pretends to be she shows up naked at the ladies’ spa or girls’ locker room.
And this thing about therapy not working: I’m reminded of how Alcoholics Anonymous and its program has reportedly helped thousands of people overcome their alcoholism, yet thousands more have not been helped, and there have been similar cases of suicide that have resulted. This is probably because it’s touted as the only show in town, which it is not! If one particular therapy is not for everyone, you simply find the one that works according to the needs of the individual; you don’t just give in to an unnatural absurdity and call the surgeon and dressmaker. God made us male and female with obvious clues as to which we are. He forbids transvestism, as well as homosexuality, and calls them “abominations” (Deuteronomy 22:5; Romans 1:26-28). No one is morally justified who contradicts God.
The Rev. Bryan Griem
Montrose Community Church
Montrose