Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Conversion Therapy’s Deadly Little Secret

Conversion Therapy’s Deadly Little Secret

Last updated on: July 26, 2020 at 5:36 pm by Robert Cottrell

Conversion Therapy’s Deadly Little Secret 2020-07-26T17:36:23-05:00 Robert Cottrell

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Even in states with bans, the overwhelming percentage of conversion therapy still continues. Every state. Every day.”

I see them on an increasingly regular basis. Social media posts celebrating another state that has banned conversion therapy. The latest was about Facebook’s decision to ban all conversion therapy ads on their platform and on Instagram.

This is great progress and I celebrate as well! These bans are a large step and critical in a journey to bring this horrible, harmful practice to light, helping make conversion therapy culturally unacceptable.

But it is vitally important to remember that, even in states with bans, the overwhelming percentage of conversion therapy still continues. Every state. Every day.

What!? How? That’s their deadly little secret. Every ban has a religious exemption!

Most conversion therapy happens in protected churches and religious nonprofits, under programs such as “troubled teen” camps and weekends — led by pastors, youth ministers, and other non-professional counselors. Every state. Every day.

The techniques are disgusting… shame, relentless bullying, physical abuse, spiritual abuse.

The results are deadly… depression, self-hatred, self-harm, substance abuse, suicide.

What can we do?

Yes, keep working to bring about more bans to increase public awareness. Absolutely!

And we must reach the parents, understanding that the key to ending conversion therapy is helping parents not send their kids there in the first place.

Let’s reveal it as so disgusting, so culturally unacceptable, that a parent would never even consider sending their child to something so evil and deadly.

Come alongside parents on their journey so they know they are not alone. Help them understand their children, keep them safe, keep their family strong, and help reconcile faith issues.

This is what FreedHearts does every day. And it’s working. We have connected with hundreds of thousands of parents, helping them affirm, accept and celebrate their LGBTQIA+ children!

And we have connected with hundreds of thousands in the LGBTQIA+ community to help with those deep religious, family and community wounds. To remember that they are worthy, that they matter, that they are beloved.

Stay strong, hopeful and dedicated. Things are changing and conversion therapy’s deadly little secret is becoming not so secret.

If we can help you in any way; to join us in this work; or to just come say hello, click here.

bible and homosexuality

Previous Post

June 17, 2020

Serving in the Army as a Queer Black Man Opened My Eyes to Racism in America

Next Post

August 10, 2020 What is a Christian Response to a Daughter's Same-Sex Wedding?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church & Religion Dear Susan Family Support Gay Weddings & Marriage GCN Conference Jesus Blog LGBTQ Support Parenting Personal Stories Suicide The Real Jesus Theology Transgender Uncategorized X Archived Posts

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 June 2022 December 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 March 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Genesis figure "walked with God and was no more, for God took him"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lamech Seth Abraham Enoch

Support this
Column