RED ALERT: The pro-conversion therapy crowd is overloading a comment period in Virginia working to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy. I need all hands on deck.

Do you live in Virginia? Do you know someone who lives in Virginia? Do you know someone who knows someone who lives in Virginia? Comment below and let me know. 

Go Here: tinyurl.com/Trvor1 and submit a comment. 

Mental Health Note: Don't read the bad comments. You don't need that negativity in your life. You are amazing and are saving lives. 

General Talking Points
 
?        This guidance will protect youth from so-called “conversion therapy,” a dangerous and discredited practice aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity.

?        These dangerous and discredited practices are based on the false claim that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) is a mental illness that needs to be cured—a view with no scientific basis.

?        This guidance protects young people from state-licensed therapists in Virginia who falsely claim to parents and youth that being LGBTQ is a mental illness, and therefore taking advantage of parents and harming vulnerable youth.

?        These harmful practices use rejection, shame, and psychological abuse to force young people to try and change who they are.

?        These practices are known to be extremely dangerous and can lead to depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, and even suicide attempts.

?        No young person should ever be shamed by a mental health professional into thinking that who they are is wrong. Mental health professionals should provide care that is ethical and affirming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people.

?        We can’t allow one more young person to be targeted and hurt by these dangerous and discredited practices.

Harming LGBTQ youth through conversion therapy should NOT be a legitimate therapeutic practice.