News (USA)

Anchorage just became the first Alaskan city to protect kids from so-called conversion therapy

Anchorage, Alaska, ex-gay conversion therapy ban
Photo: Shutterstock

On Wednesday, August 26, Anchorage became the first Alaskan city to protect minors from so-called conversion therapy, the pseudoscientific form of mental torture that falsely claims to change people’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Anchorage Assembly’s ordinance prohibits licensed medical professionals from using conversion therapy on any person under the age of 18.

Related: Canada may soon have the world’s “most progressive and comprehensive” conversion therapy ban

In response to the newly passed ordinance, Sam Brinton, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth, wrote, “The Trevor Project applauds the Anchorage Assembly for taking this historic action to end conversion therapy in Alaska’s largest city. According to data from The Trevor Project’s new national survey, LGBTQ youth who underwent conversion therapy reported more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who did not.”

From Alaska to Maine, The Trevor Project is working in cities and counties across the country to protect LGBTQ young people from this dangerous and discredited practice,” Brinton concluded.

The Trevor Project’s newly released National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health showed that 67% of LGBTQ-identified young people had someone encourage them to try and change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This high percentage suggests a larger societal misconception about queer identity: While LGBTQ identity can be fluid, nearly every American professional psychological and youth organization says that one can’t and shouldn’t try to change their sexual or gender identity.

While 75 U.S. cities and 40% of U.S. states now ban conversion therapy for minors, anti-LGBTQ religious groups like Alliance Defending Freedom and the Liberty Counsel have tried to fight ex-gay therapy bans as violations of their “free speech” and “religious freedom,” stating that people should have the right to rid themselves of “gender confusion” and “same-sex attraction.”

But the actual methods of ex-gay therapy are shady and questionable. They include telling people not to masturbate, to rigorously exercise, and study the bible. They use “covert aversion” (making LGBTQ identity seem dangerous, unhealthy, and repulsive) and “reframing of desire” onto “heterosexual surrogates” (re-directing sexual desire onto opposite-sex partners). Other methods include not shaking hands with anyone of the same-sex and not listening to music.

A 2013 survey showed that 84 percent of former patients of ex-gay therapy said it inflicted lasting shame and emotional harm. Numerous conversion therapy advocates have later come out as still gay and apologized for the harm that conversion therapy causes.

So far, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear cases challenging these bans as violations of religious freedom. But with a conservative majority now seated on the nation’s highest court, it remains to be seen whether these state bans will continue unopposed.

Regardless, a majority of Americans oppose conversion therapy, and more are becoming aware of the dangerous practice thanks to two 2018 films — The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Boy Erased — both of which depict young gay people forced into religious ex-gay programs.

It should also be said that states with conversion therapy bans still allow other types of abusive “teen discipline” work camps that pledge to “straighten out” queer and “troubled” youth. These camps are largely unregulated and have even resulted in a few deaths of teens who are sent there by their caretakers.

Don't forget to share:

Good News is your section for queer joy! Subscribe to our newsletter to get the most positive and fun stories from the site delivered to your inbox every weekend. Send us your suggestions for uplifiting and inspiring stories.


Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

AOC endorses gay primary challenger Alex Morse over powerful incumbent Congressman

Previous article

Orlando orchestra cancels Pulse performance after people complain about its straight white composer

Next article