Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
Guidance Document Change: Board of Medicine guidance on conversion therapy
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12/9/19  12:50 pm
Commenter: Rev. Linda A. Seiler

There is no such thing as Conversion Therapy
 

"Conversion" refers to the moment one places their faith in Christ; "therapy" has to do with a process of talking through issues with a therapist or counselor. "Conversion therapy" is a misnomer that joins the two and leads to a straw man argument.

Regardless of whether one condones homosexual practice, U.S. citizens ought to have the right to place their faith in Jesus Christ. And, if they experience unwanted same-sex attractions and want to explore their heterosexual potential by talking with a therapist about their past experiences that may contribute to their unwanted same-sex attractions, they ought to have the right to do so. 

It is preposterous to ban therapy for those who want to pursue it. Imagine if we banned therapy for those in the #metoo movement who have been hurt by sexual abuse and want to talk about how the abuse affects them today. There's no harm in that.

I speak as one who was once transgender, same-sex-attracted, and suicidal. I hated myself and did not want those desires. I'm deeply grateful for therapists who helped me process events in my past which contributed to my unwanted desires. Today, I am no longer suicidal, I love being a woman, and I have discovered the delight of attractions to men. Nothing was forced on me; I chose that path for myself. I did not experience electroshock therapy or any kind of abuse. It was simply talk therapy to help me process the pain in my heart which affected my perception of men and made me think women were second-class-citizens. We are body, soul, and spirit, so healing the soul can affect your body, even your sexual desires. Let's not remove that option for those who want to pursue it. 

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