23. Conversion Therapy's Dark Reality

The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible

We discuss the deeply flawed practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation.

Related Episodes:

8. Paul, Gay Marriage and Gender Pronouns

11. Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church and Some Are Committing Suicide

12. The Problems with Purity

13. When Is Sex Between Two Unmarried People God Honoring? (Seven rules for sex between unmarried people)

21. A Trans Christian's Quest for Authenticity

Movies Referenced:

Boy Erased: https://www.netflix.com/title/80240538

• Review quoted from The Jesuit Post: https://thejesuitpost.org/2018/11/boy-erased-conversion-therapy-and-the-catholic-church/

Pray Away: https://www.netflix.com/title/81040370

• Review quoted from Conscience Magazine: https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/resource-library/netflixs-pray-away-exposes-conversion-therapy-fraud/

Articles and Websites Quoted:

• The American Psychological Association (APA): https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts
• The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/group-that-promoted-curing-gays-ceases-operations.html
• Time magazine: https://time.com/3065495/9-ex-leaders-of-the-gay-conversion-therapy-movement-apologize/
• The AMA calls for ban: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/american-medical-association-backs-nationwide-conversion-therapy-ban-n1088731

Statistics quoted:

• Alan Chambers quote, “99.9% have not experienced a change in their orientation” from: https://wthrockmorton.com/2012/01/09/alan-chambers-99-9-have-not-experienced-a-change-in-their-orientation/ or https://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193965227/group-that-claimed-to-cure-gays-disbands-leader-apologizes
• Post conversion therapy suicide ideation rate of 28% from Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/1053024/lgbtq-youth-in-us-attempted-suicide-conversion-therapy-experience/
• Trans children exposed to conversion therapy at a young age are four times more likely to report lifetime suicide attempts: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-conversion-therapy-associated-severe-psychological-distress-n1052416

Finding Affirming, Sex-Positive Counselors Who Do NOT Believe in Conversion Therapy:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt#organizations
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/california?category=gay (Find the LGBTQ Affirming pull-down or edit the URL and replace “California” with “Texas” or whatever state you’re in)
• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/finding-an-lgbtq-therapist/
• https://allintherapyclinic.com/how-to-find-an-lgbt-affirming-therapist/
• https://directory.choosingtherapy.com/
• https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

On-line therapy:

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-lgbtq-online-therapy-options/
• https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/lgbtqia

Benefits of Church Attendance for Adults and Children:

• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/regularly-attending-religious-services-associated-with-lower-risk-of-deaths-of-despair/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11302358/
• https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/49/6/2030/5892419

Additional References and Resources

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/queer-youth-religion-suicide-study_n_5ad4f7b3e4b077c89ceb9774
• https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ending-conversion-therapy/
• https://glaad.org/conversiontherapy/
• https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy
• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/faith-leaders-lgbtq-conversion-therapy-ban_n_5fda6074c5b650b99ad93787
• https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/conversion-therapy-pray-away/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-56496423
• https://web.archive.org/web/20230405193059/https://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/
• https://youtu.be/Ea10c6VXVx8?si=VebC4DTN9m37bkwD&t=197
• https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Policy_Statements/2018/Conversion_Therapy.aspx
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_therapy

All quotes edited for clarity and brevity, and red by descript not the original authors.