Just this week, Tucker Carlson posted what might be the single most important interview the the realm of Change Therapy (what opponents of it call "conversion therapy"). I highly encourage adults to listen (it's definitely not for kids), as it asks and answers a number of questions and challenges the current narrative that such therapies are harmful.
Why is this important?
First of all, it brings Change Therapy into the mainstream discussion in modern American culture, and dispels a number of false ideas about what Change Therapy actually is and what it does. Secondly, Milo and Tucker both make the point that these various state governments attempt "to force people to remain gay", even if they don't want to be gay.
Comedian, Bob Hope, once joked, "Recently, the State of California legalized homosexuality. I'm leaving before they make it mandatory." In actuality, that's what California and other states have tried to do.
To clarify, contrary to popular myth, not a single state of these United States have successfully banned such Change Therapy for adults. A tiny few have managed to ban such therapy for minors (which is currently being challenged before the Supreme Court in Chilesv. Salazar), and several other states have only managed to ban the use of Medicaid/Medicare of other Federal dollars for Change Therapy, but parents can still pay out of pocket to get that therapy for their children in those states. In short, Change Therapy is banned almost nowhere, except for those poor unfortunate souls who happen to live in the Federal District of Washington, D.C. where it is banned outright. It's still legal for adults in all 50 states who pay out-of-pocket for it.
Many opponents of Change Therapy, who spend much of their time in Reddit and Discord echo chambers, claim that such therapy is harmful, some even going so far as to claim that "it kills people". While Milo and Tucker didn't address this in depth, there is a study published in the Journal of Human Sexuality (full article available at the link) that is a meta-analysis of 79 other studies about whether or not Change Therapy (referred to in the study as Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, or "SOCE", for short) actually causes harm. The researchers found that there is no published evidence from a scientifically sound study that Change Therapy, or SOCE Therapy, is any more harmful than any other type of therapy for any other reason. In fact, the most rigorous studies included of the 79 in the meta-analysis showed the most positive outcomes and fewest reports of harm.
It seems that on the topic of Change Therapy the tide may be beginning to turn both legally and in public discourse. Hopefully so. In any case, if you or someone you know struggles with unwanted same-sex attraction, and you want to see if Change Therapy is something that might work for you, or you just want to have someone talk to and explore your experience, and discuss what it might be like to be "ex-gay", fill out the contact form on this site to see if this might be a good fit for you.
