Conversion Therapy

Conversion therapy is legal in many states. That means that abusing people is legal in many states, legal meaning protected by law. Conversion therapy is one of the sickest types of abuse I can think of, and the fact that people are still being subjected to this type of abuse on a regular basis, and that it is protected by law infuriates me and makes me feel incredibly sad all at the same time. I just finished listening to an excellent podcast outlining a conversion therapy technique that is being practiced in Mormonism in certain states, including Utah (the state mentioned) that is horrific. In part I wish that hearing about conversion therapy in this podcast was the first time I had heard about conversion therapy, but I know that it isn’t fair to even wish that, and that my ability to wish that is further proof of the privilege of my cis straight female identity. However, it is not. I have many friends who have had to go through conversion therapy.

This devastates me, and what devastates me even more is that some of my friends are still wanting to go, or still feel like it is a viable solution. It is not. It is religious abuse. I am so sorry to my friends who have been subjected to this. Even my friend who claims he was “healed” (can’t even go into my feelings on that…) I wish this abuse was not done to you. I wish that you were not subjected to the abusive nature that allowed you to think this would be something that would be good for you, or bring you closer to “god” (not capital because that is a god I refuse to recognize). I am so sorry that you were made to feel shame in the most intense setting. That you were made to feel like you are less than, or that there is something the matter with you. I absolutely refuse to believe that. I refuse to believe that god can only love you if you are a cis gendered straight person. It is ignorant, it is divisive, it is shameful, it is not unconditional love, it is ABUSE.

And if you have had this experience, I hope you find the persons in your community who love you to talk about it with, and if you don’t feel like you have a person that is available, then the Trevor Project is always there for you. The number for the Trevor Lifeline is 1-866-488-7386 and they are always available. And thank God they are.