During our hurrication, I spent a lot of time watching Law and Order: SVU. In one episode in season 5, the unit had a case that surrounded a homosexual man being murdered by someone’s father for having sex with his son because he (the father) was homophobic. In the episode, it was found out that the victim was originally a part of a group that “taught” homosexuals to be straight. While it didn’t particularly go into detail on how the teachings were done, most people described the founders as nice people, but being in the group didn’t make them feel like their full authentic selves, so we can assume it was a non-violent organization. It did make me think about the topic of conversion therapy, however. On the website for the Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-involved/trevor-advocacy/50-bills-50-states/about-conversion-therapy/), I found out that conversion therapy originated from when homosexuality was listed as a mental illness (until 1973). Conversion therapy is harmful. It can be physically, mentally, and emotionally harmful to those being put through it. It is not “successful”, however. The only way it can make someone “straight” is if the person becomes too scared to admit that they are still part of the LGBTQ+ community.

I found an article from Time that proves that conversion therapy doesn’t work. It goes on to explain how an old conversion therapy leader came out as gay. The man even admitted himself that conversion is harmful and doesn’t work at all (https://time.com/5668351/mckrae-game-comes-out-gay-conversion/).

I feel as if we have come a long way with LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., but I know we still have a long way to go. For example, conversion therapy for minor is only totally banned in 18 states (https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/conversion_therapy) and Florida is not included. I hope that in the near future everyone will get to live freely, no matter their sexual orientation.