Gay Conversion Therapy Is Child Abuse

You may have heard that the Supreme Court overturned a ban on conversion therapy in Colorado. This opens up the door for therapists to practice pseudo-scientific therapies on adolescents that aim to change their sexual orientation. That all sounds a bit confusing. But it's not. Conversion therapy is not therapy. It is psychological harm. Harm that is done to children. If you are knowingly inflicting psychological harm on children, that is abuse. This is not nuanced. This is not up for debate. Gay conversion therapy is child abuse.

Watch: Why I’m Not Staying Silent About This

This Isn’t About Beliefs

I'm actually very tolerant of other people's beliefs. You are allowed to have your beliefs about being gay. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to affirm it. You don’t have to celebrate it. No one is forcing you to go to a pride parade or blast "Born this way." But the second those beliefs turn into actions that harm children, we are no longer talking about “differences of opinion.” We’re talking about harm. And harm is not subjective.

We Know the Truth Now

There may have been a time when people didn’t fully understand the impact of conversion therapy. That time is over.

We have the data on so called "conversion therapy." Here's the truth:

• It does not change sexual orientation

• It increases shame, depression, and anxiety

• And it significantly raises suicide risk

So continuing to practice or defend it today is not ignorance. It’s a choice to inflict harm. Full stop.

Stop Hiding Behind “Therapy”

Calling something “therapy” doesn’t make it therapeutic. If you are trying to change a child’s sexual orientation, suppress their identity or convince them they are broken, you are not helping them. You are teaching them to disconnect from themselves. You are teaching them to hate themselves. And that kind of psychological damage doesn’t just disappear—it follows people into adulthood, relationships, and self-worth. (If this resonates, you can learn more about how this kind of impact shows up later in life on my trauma therapy page).

This Is Where the Line Is

You can disagree with being gay. But harming children is not a belief. It's a clear line. And that line doesn’t move just because you call it therapy. A lot of people are framing this as a “free speech” issue. Fine—believe what you want. But you are not free from accountability when your actions harm others--especially children. Calling that out is not persecution. It's responsibility. Anyone attempting to “convert” or “repair” a child’s sexual orientation using pseudoscientific methods is a predator.

Why This Hits So Hard for Gay Men

For many of us, this isn’t theoretical. We grew up feeling different, being judged and learning to hide parts of ourselves. So when we see adults reinforcing that same message—especially toward kids—it hits something deeper. And yeah, a lot of gay men still carry that instinct to stay quiet around people who feel like bullies. This is not the moment for that. We are not on the wrong side of this.

For Survivors of Gay Conversion Therapy

If you went through this, what you experienced was not “help.” It was harm.

And if you’re still dealing with the effects—shame, anxiety, confusion around identity or relationships—you’re not alone. I work with gay men who are unpacking exactly this kind of experience. (To learn more, check out Treatment for Conversion Therapy Survivors.)

To the Next Generation

To every gay kid being told they need to change: You are not broken.You were never the problem. And there are people who will stand up for you—clearly, directly, and without backing down. Because some things aren’t complicated. They just need to be said.

Gay Men Healing

If you grew up feeling like something about you needed to be fixed, that doesn’t just disappear. It shows up in your relationships, your confidence, and how you see yourself.

I work with gay men who are ready to undo that conditioning and actually feel grounded in who they are. Book a free consultation call to get started. Or learn more about working with me.

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