Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
 
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Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Counseling
 
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4/11/19  12:23 am
Commenter: Robert G. Moulder, Psychology PhD Candidate, University of Virginia

Conversion therapy fails at all a mathematical level, a biological level, and a moral level
 

Conversion therapy is an umbrella term for processes aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The name is fairly misleading as rarely do these methods "convert" any individual, nor is it recognized as a therapy by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Association for Psychological Science (APS). APA and APS are the two largest psychological research associations in the United States and both of these institutes, and the scientific community at large, agree that conversion therapy is a waste of time at best and abhorrent/torturous at worst. To quote the APA, "The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation" and thus does not necessitate therapy. Numerous studies have shown mathematically and statistically that homosexuality is healthy and that conversion therapy is ineffective. Numerous studies have also shown natural biological differences in brain structure between homosexual and heterosexual individuals. Homosexuality is then scientifically shown to be natural. If science does not persuade you (it should), then at a moral level, should not good individuals who are consenting adults be allowed to do as they please? Should not younger individuals be given guidance by trusted adults and their peers as opposed to being told that they are wrong or broken for simply being themselves? Why waste time, energy, and state funds on a “treatment” that has been shown not to work? Regulating conversion therapy is not enough as its very existence is unethical and harmful. Appeasing individuals should never come before the truth and the best tools we have for determining truth is science. Scientists at large say to stop conversion therapy as it is, in and of itself, harmful. It may be best to listen.

CommentID: 71180