Obama backs efforts to end ‘conversion therapy’

UP NEXT

03

Newsy

President Obama is lending support to efforts to end “conversion therapy” that seeks to change the sexual orientation of gay, lesbian, and transgender youth.

Responding to a petition on the White House website calling for a ban on conversion therapy, Obama writes that

Obama adds: “What happens next depends on him, his family, as well as his friends and his teachers and his community. But it also depends on us — on the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we build.”

The White House petition

The proposed law is named for Leelah Alcorn a 17-year-old transgender youth who committed suicide in December after saying her parents had forced her to attend conversion therapy.

The petition says conversion therapies “have been documented to cause great harms and in this case, Leelah’s death. Therapists that engage in the attempt to brainwash or reverse any child’s gender identity or sexual orientation are seriously unethical and legislation is needed to end such practices.”

Also responding to the petition, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett writes that “we share your concern about its potentially devastating effects on the lives of transgender as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer youth.”

The “overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm,” Jarrett writes. “As part of our dedication to protecting America’s youth, this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors.”

From the Associated Press

“The White House is not explicitly calling for congressional legislation to ban the therapies nationwide. But Jarrett’s statement highlighted states that have outlawed the practice and expressed hope that there will be broader action.

“The White House says lawmakers in 18 states have introduced legislation similar to measures already in place in California, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., banning licensed professionals from using conversion therapy on minors.

“The American Psychiatric Association has long opposed conversion therapy, which the organization says is based on the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder.”

Boston bombing trial: 14 facts in 45 seconds

Apr 09, 2015