Persons with unwanted same-sex or mixed-sex attractions should not be barred from seeking professional help in overcoming their attractions. Persons with same-sex or mixed-sex attractions that seek out professional help often do so for religious reasons; barring them from seeking professional help for unwanted attractions places an obstacle in the path of their free exercise of religion. Barring persons with unwanted same-sex or mixed-sex attractions from access to reparative therapy is a violation of a person's right to conscience, and it denies persons with same-sex attractions the ability to make informed health decisions together with a health care professional and, when they are minors, denies parents and legal gaurdians the right to make informed health decisions for their children.
Prohibiting health professionals, social workers, or other relevant entities, particularly faith-based groups, from providing reparative therapy places an obstacle in the right to free excercise of religion and freedom of conscience. Many health professionals agree that unwanted same-sex and mixed-sex attractions can be lessened, managaged, or overcome through therapy. Prohibiting health professionals from providing therapy to persons with unwanted same-sex or mixed-sex attractions legislates against the recommendations of many health professionals. Health professionals should be permitted to excercise their practice in accordance with best practice and their informed medical judgement.