Conversion Therapy What It Is Research Paper

Tragically, it harms the most vulnerable among us -- children. This must stop

Please, send Senate Bill 1172 to the Assembly floor for a vote. It is the right thing to do. Thank you. (Domi,, 2012 ).

My Opinion

Advocates of conversion therapy are correct in maintaining that as long as the therapy helps a quantifiable amount of people, and these people voluntarily choose that theory, it should be maintained. The question is, however, how many other people has it harmed, and what is the extent and intensity of this harm... As in every other aspect, an approach that is harmful needs to be curtailed by the government. The government restricts smoking and drugs since harmful to the person. Advocates label this system as 'therapy', and therefore, say that a patient can choose the type of therapy that he or she wishes. However, the Ninth Circuit addressed this point in 1997 when the following case occurred: So-called therapy can be harmful too. Flagellation can be classified as therapy as well as other forms of maltreatment. "A Russian citizen had been apprehended by the Russian militia, registered at a clinic as a 'suspected lesbian,' and forced to undergo treatment for lesbianism, such as 'sedative drugs' and hypnosis.... The Ninth Circuit held that the conversion treatments to which Pitcherskaia had been subjected constituted mental and physical torture. The court rejected the argument that the treatments to which Pitcherskaia had been subjected did not constitute persecution because they had been intended to help her, not harm her, and stated "human rights laws cannot be sidestepped by simply couching actions that torture mentally or physically in benevolent terms such as 'curing' or 'treating' the victims."( Gans, 1999),

If clearly harmful, they should not be condoned.

If statistics show that a certain therapy results in significant depression and suicide, than steps should be taken to eliminate that therapy since, even though some people may be helped, the majority are clearly being harmed by it. Just as Mark Yarhouse and Warren Throckmorton used the principle of "Do no harm" to argue for conversion therapy, we can use that same principle to argue that further studies be conducted on conversion therapy to investigate its impact. If evidence continues demonstrating clear and significant harm, Yarhouse and Throckmorton's argument can be used - as the APA uses it - to affirm the Californian court's decision. Therapies that harm should, even if they help a few people, not are allowed in the nation. We can never know whom they may harm and who not, and we dare not take the risk

References.

American Psychological Association, February 2008 (PDF) Answers to Your Questions: For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/orientation.aspx?item=8

Buchanan, W (September 29, 2012). State bans gay-repair therapy for minors. San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/State-bans-gay-repair-therapy-for-minors-3906032.php

Domi, T (June 26, 2012 ) UPDATE: Prop 8 Witness Ryan Kendall Testifies on Conversion Therapy; Committee Approves 5-2

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/prop-8-witness-ryan-kendall-testifies-before-california-assembly-on-conversion-therapy/news/2012/06/26/42221

Gans, Laura a. (1999) Inverts, Perverts, and Converts: Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy and Liability, the Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 8

Haldeman, Douglas C. (2002), Gay Rights, Patient Rights: The Implications of Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 33 (3): 260

Just the Facts Coalition,( 1999) Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts.pdf

Spitzer, E. (2001) Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation?, Archive of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5,

Shidlo, a & Schroeder, M,(2002), Changing Sexual Orientation: A Consumers' Report, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 33 (3): 249

US Dpt. Sexual Health the Surgeon General's call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/sexualhealth/call.htm#III]