The Co-Opt of the Phrase Conversion Therapy
My statement to Oregon state to oppose HB 2458 to extend the ban on "conversion therapy"
My colleague and friend Stephanie Winn, LMFT (@sometherapist on twitter) has put out a call to action to oppose a bill in Oregon to extend their so-called “conversion therapy ban”. This term conversion therapy, which traditionally was used in reference to turning someone away from being gay, has now been co-opted and extended to transgender identity. The main difference between gay and transgender identities is there is currently a social contagion among youth. (I explain more below) Plus, unlike being gay, becoming transgender involves risky medical treatments. Even if there are no medical complications, a trans identity involves permanently changing the body. This is Orwellian language because essentially, they are saying you are converting someone if you help them figure out that they would rather live as the sex they were born as. This small clip of Ryan T Anderson, from the documentary film Dysconnected explains:
My statement to Oregon regarding HB2458
“Prohibits practice of conversion therapy by certain professionals”.
I'm a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience providing mental health services to teens, families and adults and I oppose HB 2458. The purpose of providing therapy is to explore underlying issues and help patients make the best choices for themselves. A competent therapist treats each client differently according to their individual needs. My concern with this bill is it prevents therapists from exploration therapy when gender is involved.
Historically, conversion therapy was a reference to sexual orientation. Most people agree the way conversion therapy was done in the past with gay people isn't helpful and can be harmful. However, the definition of conversion therapy has been expanded to a transgender identity. The difference is when people take on a transgender identity, there are very different circumstances and consequences. A trans identity usually leads someone down a medical path that involves many physical risks such as cancer, blood clots, sterility, urinary tract issues, early onset menopause, loss of sexual function, chronic pain, and much more. In addition, it is a very big decision that is impossible to reverse, so it must be made thoughtfully and while ruling out other possible co-morbidities.
Chart from Society for Evidence Based Medicine (SEGM)
In addition, it cannot be denied that in 2023, there are so many external influences on youth to take on a transgender identity in schools, movies, TV, peer groups and on the internet. According to the (now shut-down) UK gender clinic, Tavistock, there was a 5,000% increase in trans youth from 2010-2022. However, the numbers have stayed steady for adults. Many would argue that this increase is simply because of societal acceptance. However, if being transgender was innate for everyone, then why isn't there such an increase in trans-identified adults? Unfortunately, while many of us are being swept away with the drive to be tolerant and accepting, we are overlooking people who need help exploring other issues such as sexual trauma or autism. If this bill passes, these vulnerable people will not get the proper treatment because their therapists will continue to fear being labeled a "conversion therapist" and their patients will suffer greatly.
Therapists need to be able to do their jobs, and HB 2458 (while it sounds nice) prevents them from doing so.
You can write your own statement by following this link. You do not need to be a resident of Oregon.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger is a licensed clinical social worker in California. She completed her MSW in 1999 from New York University. She has a variety of experience in schools, group homes, hospitals and community-based organizations. Since getting fired for not getting the C*VID vaccine, she has dedicated herself to educate parents and embolden other mental health professionals to challenge the ideological capture of her profession.
For more detailed information on how parents can empower themselves and navigate the mental health field, see the Parents' Guide to Mental Health.
As a lesbian, this shit makes me so fucking angry.
THANK YOU.