Conversion therapy

Politics & Government

High Court, in declining to weigh conversion therapy ban, allows law to stand

9:59am December 11, 2023

by Nina Totenberg

In doing so, the court left standing a lower court decision that upheld the state's ban on a therapy that the American Medical Association says "is not based on medical and scientific evidence."

Charles Silverstein (left) and his partner of 20 years, William Bory, smile at the camera in the 1970s. Silverstein dedicated his work to helping LGBTQ people live without shame.

Health & Safety

Charles Silverstein, a psychologist who helped destigmatize homosexuality, dies at 87

6:15pm February 09, 2023

by Kaitlyn Radde

Homosexuality was considered a mental disorder and "sexual deviation" until 1973 — months after Silverstein gave a presentation challenging the classification.

People march up Queen Street in Auckland, New Zealand, during the annual Pride Festival in February 2019. Three years later, lawmakers banned conversion practices by a near-unanimous vote.

World News

New Zealand just became the latest country to outlaw conversion therapy

12:36pm February 16, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

The new law calls for prison time for anyone who performs conversion therapy on children under 18 or who performs a practice that "causes serious harm to the individual" — regardless of their age.

Marchers raise a rainbow flag during the 2018 Pride parade in Salt Lake City. Late Tuesday, state regulators implemented a ban on "conversion therapy" aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ young people.

Utah Becomes Latest State To Ban Discredited LGBTQ 'Conversion Therapy'

7:34pm January 22, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

A host of medical experts has rejected the practice — aimed at changing a patient's sexual orientation — as "futile and destructive." In Utah, the ban took effect with a regulatory change Tuesday.

National

New York City Debates Repealing Conversion Therapy Ban

10:49pm September 18, 2019

by Gwynne Hogan

Facing a federal lawsuit by an anti-LGBT group, city officials are considering repealing the 2017 ban. Officials say a repeal may avoid setting nationwide precedent if judges side against the city.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Governor Cooper Moves To Block Conversion Therapy Funds

3:22pm August 02, 2019

by Associated Press

Greg McDonald Jr. (left) sits with his fiancé Jon Jost. McDonald's parents considered sending him to counseling when they were concerned he was gay. Now they support a ban on conversion therapy.

National

Activists And Suicide Prevention Groups Seek Bans On Conversion Therapy For Minors

1:35pm April 26, 2019

by Leila Fadel

Conversion therapy aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice is discredited by mental health professionals and is linked to higher rates of suicide.

Queue Listen Now

Members of the Maryland House of Delegates convene at the state house in Annapolis, Md., on the first day of the state's 2018 legislative session.

Maryland Delegate Says Her Dad, A State Senator, Suggested Conversion Therapy To Her

8:25pm April 05, 2018

by Adrienne St. Clair

Maryland Senator Bryan Simonaire voted against a state ban on conversion therapy. Later, his daughter, Meagan, a state delegate, voted for the ban, saying her parents urged her to do it as a teenager.