By its intrinsic design, conversion therapy requires youths to falsely blame their parents and relatives for their sexual orientation. Conversion therapy turns those who can help a youth the most into untrusted enemies. In isolating youths from their family and friends, conversion therapy worsens loneliness and sexual recklessness, putting youths’ health at serious risk. Conversion therapy is a blatant form of medical malpractice that is intended to abuse minors.

On the religious front, conversion therapists teach their young clients to reject mainstream faith, to stop making religious decision for themselves, and instead to accept the authoritarian and misogynist dictates of the political fringe groups and cults that sponsor conversion “therapy.”

Conversion therapy has no legitimate clinical application — and no honest role in advancing freely chosen faith in our communities.