Conversion Therapy Resurgence: The Dangerous Return of 'Ex-Gay' Practices
Conversion therapy, a harmful practice rejected by major medical associations, remains prevalent in the U.S. and is linked to increased mental health risks like depression and suicide. Legal bans for minors exist in over half the states, but recent political moves have reversed some restrictions, and a Supreme Court case could weaken others. Former ex-gay leaders now regret their roles, admitting the practice caused widespread damage. Personal narratives reveal deep, lasting psychological trauma from covert sessions. Survivors are organizing support networks to cope and combat the resurgence, which is driven by religious and conservative political forces.
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Conversion therapy, widely condemned by medical professionals, persists across the U.S. in nearly all states and is experiencing a covert resurgence, even as legal bans face reversal and former advocates reveal its harms.
What is Conversion Therapy?
Conversion therapy refers to discredited, pseudoscientific practices aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Major medical bodies, including the American Psychological Association and American Medical Association, denounce it as unethical, ineffective, and dangerous.
Research consistently shows it increases risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide among LGBTQ individuals.
Personal Accounts of Harm
Andrew Pledger: As a student at Bob Jones University in 2021, Pledger underwent a session where staff used religious texts to address his sexuality, leading to dissociation and eventual departure from the university.
Rocky Tishma: Subjected to conversion therapy through his Mormon church as a teenager, he faced shaming directives and long-term psychological effects, including a suicide attempt; he now aids survivors as a psychotherapist.
Curtis Lopez-Galloway: At 16, he attended sessions with a Christian counselor who prescribed masculine activities and isolation from gay friends, documented in a treatment plan; he later advocated for a Kentucky ban, which was repealed.
Legal Landscape and Political Pushback
Over half of U.S. states ban conversion therapy for minors, but these restrictions are under threat.
Recent reversals include Columbia, South Carolina, repealing its city ban and Kentucky overturning a state funding ban for practitioners.
The Supreme Court will hear a case challenging Colorado's ban, with conservative justices questioning the regulation of 'talk therapy' under First Amendment rights.
Proponents argue bans violate parental rights and religious liberty, while opponents emphasize the practice's documented dangers.
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Regrets from Former Leaders
Key ex-gay movement figures, such as John Smid (ex-Love in Action director), Randy Scobey, and Bill Prickett, now publicly denounce conversion therapy.
Smid estimates influencing 38,000 people over decades; Scobey notes 10,000 monthly attendees at Exodus International's peak.
All acknowledge the practice's ineffectiveness and profound harm, with some participants dying by suicide, expressing remorse: "We hurt people."
They cite a resurgence driven by religious and political activists, noting it is now "bigger" but less organized.
The Ongoing Resurgence
Conversion therapy has evolved from overt camps to subtle forms, often disguised as religious counseling or talk therapy.
Groups like the Changed Movement promote efforts to change sexual orientation, rejecting the term 'conversion therapy' but advocating similar practices.
Former leaders warn that dogmatic beliefs from the ex-gay era persist in churches and conservative politics, fueling the revival.
Survivors' Stories and Healing
Survivors report enduring trauma, including depression, addiction, and PTSD, with recovery taking years or decades.
Support networks, such as the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, offer community and therapy, with members sharing experiences of specific trauma.
Healing is possible, as seen in survivors like Pledger, Tishma, and Lopez-Galloway, who now advocate against the practice and find peace with their identities.
Editor's Note: For crisis support, call or text 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
