Statement on conversion therapy

On Conversion Talk in Indian Clinical Contexts: A Pilot Venture

“…Conversion therapies are practices that aim to alter or change an individual's sexual orientation/gender expression/gender identity perceiving such alterations as a desirable end for family, society, and community. 2 Conversion therapies are continually practiced by licensed professionals, religious ministries, lay counselors, and community or family members, ironically often with state support. 2 Documented evidence of conversion attempts for "male" homosexuality date back to the 1800s through practices such as ordered visits to female sex-workers, shock therapy, and even castration.…”

“…2 Conversion therapies are continually practiced by licensed professionals, religious ministries, lay counselors, and community or family members, ironically often with state support. 2 Documented evidence of conversion attempts for "male" homosexuality date back to the 1800s through practices such as ordered visits to female sex-workers, shock therapy, and even castration. 3 The current focus is toward less shocking and less extreme "talk therapy"; though apparently benign in scope such talk is no less associated with lasting psychological harm.…”

“…2 Conversion therapies are continually practiced by licensed professionals, religious ministries, lay counselors, and community or family members, ironically often with state support. 2…”

Sexual identity or religious freedom: could conversion therapy ever be morally permissible in limited urgent situations?

“…“Conversion therapy” (CT) refers to a range of discredited practices that attempt to re-align an individual’s sexual orientation, usually from non-heterosexual to heterosexual (Drescher et al 2016 ). Also known as reparative therapy , reorientation therapy or sexual orientation change efforts , it can include psychotherapy, aversion therapy, exorcisms, spiritual cleansing, electric shock therapy or hormonal pharmacotherapy (Alempijevic et al 2020 ). These practices are founded on unscientific and heterosexist assumptions that sexual orientation is mutable and that heterosexuality is socially, morally and legally favoured (Berg et al 2016 ).…”

Sexual orientation change efforts and gender identity change efforts in international contexts: Global exports, local commodities.

“…Religious leaders and faith institutions appear to be primary perpetrators of SOCE/GICE in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, but private and public mental health professionals are the most common perpetrators in Asia and many other regions of the world (OutRight Action International, 2019). SOCE/GICE by religious practitioners often involve exorcism or ritual cleanings via beatings or burnings during prayers, force-feeding, or food deprivation (Alempijevic et al, 2020). When SOCE/GICE are practiced by mental health professionals, these efforts typically take one of the following forms: psychotherapy; behavioral conditioning; electroconvulsive therapies 10…”