Where is gay conversion therapy banned

A majority of the United States population lives in jurisdictions that have banned conversion therapy on minors, although significant gaps in protections remain.

Map Shows States Which Still Allow Conversion Therapy - Newsweek

Conversion therapy is an abusive, pseudoscientific attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite growing opposition, conversion therapy remains legal in several U.S. states, highlighted in a new map that reveals where the controversial practice is still permitted. This map shows where conversion therapy was banned in the world in Conversion "therapy" laws prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBTQ minors to harmful conversion "therapy" practices that attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

These laws do not restrict the practice among religious providers. Conversion therapy —a practice aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity—has been widely discredited and is banned in 22 states and the District of Columbia. More than 20 US states have banned conversion therapy for minors. Top stories.

Sign up for news. Hugh joined Newsweek inhaving worked at Alliance News Ltd where he specialised in global and regional business developments, economic news, and market trends. As recently as February, New Zealand became the where is gay conversion therapy banned country to ban conversion therapy, introducing two new criminal offences for attempts to change the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of anyone under Some other countries, including Ireland, have proposed bans or are consulting on the issue.

In Northern Ireland, politicians passed a non-binding motion in April calling for a ban, and work is continuing on a policy to end conversion practices. There is no standard legal definition and victims may be reluctant to share their experiences. Several countries have introduced criminal bans for those found to be practising conversion therapy, including Ecuador in and Malta in The American Medical Association rejects the idea that same-sex attraction or nonconforming gender identity are mental disorders, saying it is not supported by medical evidence.

But the survey did not define what it meant by conversion therapy, and did not ask when or where it had happened. The Evangelical Alliance, which says it represents 3, churches, argues a ban could jeopardise religious freedomsexternal. Some practitioners rely on talk therapy or prayer, but extreme cases have subjected patients to physical violence and food deprivation.

A where is gay conversion therapy banned proportion of transgender respondents had experience of the practice. Update 20 September We added some additional text to the article to clarify that although a Conversion Practices Bill had been signalled in the King's Speech a draft bill had not at that stage been published, as we originally reported. Related topics. Once a draft bill is published, it will undergo consultation before a full bill is formally introduced to Parliament.

The APA — which refers to the practices as "sexual orientation change efforts" or "gender identity change efforts" — says that these operate under the assumption that such identities "are illnesses that must be cured," and criticized the common use of "an array of psychosocially harmful techniques, including public shaming or inducing adverse physiological reactions.

Religion LGBT. As a result, those found to be practicing conversion therapy can face disciplinary actions, or even lose their licenses, for engaging in the practice. About 20 US states have banned the practice for minors, although many of these do not include religious counsellors and organisations. Notably, however, this restriction does not ban the practice, but only prevents its practitioners from doing so with state funding.

Conversion therapy - denounced by professional and health associations globally but promoted by some religious conservatives - aims to encourage lesbian, gay and transgender people to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. In practice, it means trying to stop or suppress someone from being gay, or from identifying as a different gender to their sex recorded at birth. Their ban came through the Federal Council of Psychology, and it was extended to cover gender identity as well as sexual orientation in But unless we keep pressure on the UK Government, we risk lagging even further behind other countries in the world.

Nevertheless, there is still no countrywide agreement on conversion therapy, with many states yet to legislate against its use. Copy Link. Key points in the King's Speech.