Op-Ed: Lawmakers should ban discredited, ineffective, cruel therapy that increases suicide among youth
By Ben Chandler, President & CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
February 23, 2022
It’s a therapy that is discredited, ineffective, and often cruel, that can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, and even suicide. Yet, this practice – known as conversion or reparative therapy – still exists in the commonwealth today with a goal of changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Now, Kentucky lawmakers have an opportunity to protect our next generation from these degrading practices. Two bills have been introduced – the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, HB 12 by Representative Lisa Willner, and SB 137 by Senator Alice Forgy Kerr. Both bills would bar licensed mental health professionals – including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers – from engaging in sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts for people under 18-years old.
However, that window to take action is quickly closing. With only weeks left in the 2022 Legislative Session, SB 137 has been referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but neither bill has been scheduled for a hearing – the first of many steps in the long process of bill passage. That’s further than similar bills have gotten in previous legislative sessions, but not enough to actually outlaw the process.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky relies on data and research to drive evidence-based policy recommendations. Conversion therapy has been condemned as ineffective and dangerous by every major medical and mental health organization in America as well as several international health organizations.
Studies cite increased risk of depression, illegal drug use, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases among youth who undergo sexual orientation or gender identity conversion efforts (SOGICE).
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in July 2020 concluded that 'those who reported undergoing SOGICE were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and having multiple suicide attempts.
That same study also found Hispanic youth from lower-income families and whose religion is anti-LGBTQ are more likely to be subjected to conversion therapy, and therefore, at a greater risk of suicide and other negative health impacts.
As of today, 25 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, have banned or partially banned these processes. It’s time Kentucky joins that list and protects our LGBTQ youth from this harmful practice. It is within lawmakers’ power to eliminate this health disparity.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky urges lawmakers take action and pass legislation that eliminates conversion therapy in the commonwealth.