Shakes Fields Mr.. Huston English IV Senior Term Paper 09 November 2012 Is Reparative (Conversion) Therapy Okay? Throughout history there has been much controversy surrounding the topic of human beings sexual orientation. Whether it they are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, people like what they like. In some cases, many people believe that they are born with certain urges that attract them to either the same or maybe even the opposite sex. The number one question that has been asked in today’s society is that if using reparative therapy is okay.
Although many people believe in using this therapy, they should steer away from practicing it because it is unethical, there is no proven cure, and it often leads to an increased number of depression and suicide among teens. While wanting to change one’s self for their own well being is okay, this reparative therapy has been forced upon most homosexuals to “help” them be better suited in today’s society. This process is unethical because it is “based upon the assumption that homosexuality per SE is a mental disorder” (Lies).
Why should: gay, lesbian, asexual, or transgender people are made to look like they have mental problems when in all actuality the problem is our society homophobia? According to the American Psychological Associations code of ethics, “psychologists are forbid from making false or misleading statements about the scientific or clinical basis of the services” (Smith) Yet therapist practicing conversion therapy are allowed to tell their patients about the lonely life that comes with being a homosexual. Who are they to know or even say what the life a homosexual is like if they have never experienced it?
Most of these “therapist” lead heterosexual lives and would not know the first thing about the way that a homosexual lives. So while they are teaching and trying to convert people to heterosexuality, should they not first know the facts of what they are trying to change? Most homosexuals sometimes lead happier lives than that of a heterosexual. By “showing them a honest portrayal of gay life, helping them see that God loves them for who they are, and that they can be gay and happy will help them in realizing that there is nothing wrong with their sexuality’ Monsoons).
So in Heinz eight, there is absolutely no reason to even attempt at changing the lives of those gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people, because those efforts would be futile. If these people are content and happy with the way they live, it would be completely unethical to try and mold them to fit in with today’s society. Besides the fact that this reparative therapy is unethical, there has also been no proven cure in the case of homosexuality. “Psychiatric medications, for all their problems, must be proven safe and effective through clinical trials before they win government approval” (Salivate).
So why are therapist still being able to use conversion therapy when there is no proven cure? “In a two-thousand and two study by psychologists Ariel Shoddily and Michael Schroeder, a whopping eighty-eight percent of the two-hundred and two percent were classified as a heterosexual shift” (Smith). It is highly unlikely that there truly be a cure in changing a person’s sexual preference. There is also no possible way to accurately document whether or not someone’s same sex attractions have completely switched to that of the opposite sex. With no proof of actual calculated ATA, who is to say whether reparative therapy works?
Only those who go through therapy truly know whether or not they have completely changed. ‘Most of these patients are sucked in by claims of success stories or graduates who live in heterosexual situations” Monsoons). One situation proving that this therapy does not work is with John Paula. “He thought that by accepting Christ into his life he would be able to leave homosexuality. He believed that homosexuality was reversible and that through time his homosexual desires had been greatly subsided. Shortly after saying his Paula was spotted and photographed in a D.
C. Gay bar” Monsoons). With results like these, all therapists should refrain from using conversion therapy. Whether conversion therapy be unethical or have no proven cure, its biggest downfall is the increased rates of depression and suicides among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender teens. Being a teen in today’s society is hard all by its self. From getting bullied about what you wear or worrying about not having enough food to eat. But for those teens who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender there is a hole new door of problems that is opened up.
They are made to feel alone, like no one loves them, or as if they need to change. And it is understandable for them to want to change when there are things like reparative therapy in today’s world. “The potential risks of conversion therapy are great, including depression, anxiety, self- destructive behavior, and sometimes reinforced self-hatred” (Meyer). For most people homosexuality is not a choice, therefore it cannot be changed. Trying to get people to change by making them feel insignificant is the number one way conversion therapy arks.
Patients are told that if does not work it is because they did not try hard enough. This fact alone can hurt a person’s self-esteem and make them want to commit suicide. Not to mention the fact that some of these gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender teens feel rejected by their parent’s and out castes by their friends. This is enough to send anyone over the edge. Regardless of how people may live their lives, no one, especially a child, should ever have to experience this. That is why they have made performing reparative therapy illegal in the state of California.
Hopefully all of the states will soon realize the dangers of reparative therapy and too ban its practice. “Such a reckless treatment with such a high potential for dangerous side effects should not be allowed on kids” (Salivate). When all is said and done, the safety and well being of people should be the world’s biggest concern. If people continue using conversion therapy we can only expect a world of destruction. Instead, everyone needs to find a common ground that allows straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people to peacefully coexist in today’s society.
