Conversion Therapy Should Be A Crime

While sitting in the lobby at my dentist’s office this week, there was a news show on with a lady talking about the harm that conversion therapy caused to her life.

If you are not familiar with conversion therapy, here is a link to an explanation as defined on the public knowledge sharing site, Wikipedia.

The woman on the show advised she paid $270 weekly for conversion therapy to help her transition from her natural homosexuality to becoming heterosexual. The end result of the therapy did not change her nature. It caused psychological harm.

This story disturbed me for many reasons:

1) The existence of this therapy suggests that homosexuality is wrong. I do not agree with this. And yes, I am a God-fearing woman, who believes we all exist to be loving and helpful to one another.

2) This woman was being charged this fee by her church. These people took her money and tried to psychologically get her to change a part of who she is. A church is a place of healing. Not a place to be swindled.

3) Homosexuality is not some illness that people go to a doctor, or any other type of healer, to change. This day and age we have so many young people committing suicide due to not being accepted for who they are. A church should not be adding to this.

4) Sexuality is personal. It is a natural part of us that we self-identify. It is not something that someone else dictates.

5) Charging someone money to try and psychologically change who they are to fit who we think they should be should be a crime. We are not talking about killers, thieves, rapists, or others who seek to harm others. Those who seek to harm others need psychological help. Not people who are attracted to the same sex.

Ugh....I could go on and on about this but I will leave it here.

I know many people will disagree with my stance on this and I understand. Post your comments. Let’s try to be understanding with one another.

Image obtained from festivalclaca.cat