The United Nations recently met to discuss the affects conversion therapy. Also known as ex gay therapy, representatives from advocate groups, as well as religious leaders, and mental health professionals met to discuss the legitimacy of such practices that have faced a lot of recent media scrutiny. These representatives discussed their knowledge on the controversial measure as well as their own personal experiences with being a member of the LGBT community.

The topics of this meeting included the Uganda “Kill The Gays” bill as well as the studies that have shown the negative affects of said therapy. There was even a discussion of the noticeable doubt of the leaders that do support the barbaric mode of behavior modification. Especially when these leaders noted that the therapy does not “cure” homosexuality but does suppress urges. These leaders and organizations like Exodus always have a religious theme that claim that we can be saved through prayer.

You may remember the numerous reports I’ve done where I pointed out the side effects found by California task force when they introduced then passed a measure banning ex gay therapy for minors. The numerous mental health issues that arise are enough reason why this archaic  and secular based approach needs to be outlawed:

The task force concluded that sexual orientation change efforts can pose critical health risks to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, including confusion, depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, disappointment, self-blame, decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, hostility and blame toward parents, feelings of anger and betrayal, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors, a feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to self, a loss of faith, and a sense of having wasted time and resources.

So does this mean that these discussion by world leaders will lead to some sort of ban on the practices? Maybe. We’ve seen states like California ban the measure (even though that law is on hold) along with half a dozen other states looking to enact similar statutes. But at least more people are talking about it. Even the noted failure of people like Dr. Oz making a show of this controversial therapy, the more we talk about it, the more likely we are to see how harmful these type of reparative therapies are. And then that could lead to such practices being permanently banned. It’s progress.