GLSEN Responds to Obama's Call to End Conversion Therapy

GLSEN's Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard, thanked President Obama for calling for an end to conversion therapy for minors. Organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American School Counselor Association and many others reject the use of conversion therapy, also known as "reparative therapy."

GLSEN's Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel, produced in partnership with a coalition of education, health, mental health and religious organizations, address this and other practices.

Studies conducted by major mental health organizations and personal testimony from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth have shown that conversion therapy can create dangerous and even life-threatening effects, including depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse and suicidal behavior.

"We are thrilled that President Obama will call for an end to the use of conversion therapy on minors," said GLSEN. "It is a harmful and discredited practice that uses rejection, shame and psychological abuse aimed at changing one's sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Fifteen years ago, major medical, psychiatric and counseling associations rallied to GLSEN's side to beat back attempts to force this insidious practice into our schools. We salute them for their pioneering stance and thank the President for his leadership in protecting youth from these damaging and misguided practices.

In addition, Congressman Nadler of the 10th Congressional District of New York released the following statement in response to President Obama's call for an end to "conversion" therapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth:

"As President Obama has said, sexual orientation change efforts -- colloquially known as 'conversion' or 'reparative' therapy -- have been widely discredited by nearly every major medical and mental health association across the nation, as not only unable to accomplish their stated goals, but harmful to youth. I believe that licensed mental health professionals should be prohibited from engaging in these deceptive and damaging practices. I am proud that President Obama has added his voice to the effort to end 'conversion' therapy nationwide."

Jerrold Nadler has served in Congress since 1992. He represents New York's 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.