What is conversion therapy?

Conversion therapy, also known as homotherapy, is a pseudoscientific practice that seeks to convert homosexuals to heterosexuality, or at least encourage them to be abstinent. Largely pushed by religious groups, this kind of therapy is still growing in Europe and America. The practices are not only ineffective, but can also be dangerous.

Conversion therapy first appeared in 1950s North America. Sexologists would treat homosexuality like a neurological disorder. So gay people underwent treatments like lobotomies or electric shocks with the aim of changing their sexual orientation. In the 1970s, it was finally recognised that homosexuality was not a psychiatric problem. And only in 1992 did the World Health Organization take it off its list of mental illnesses!

That said, conversion therapy has continued to exist, and is commonplace in countries like the USA or Poland. Sessions are often run by religious movements, and especially Catholic ones, who consider that being gay is a sexual deviance or the work of the devil.

These groups offer courses with varying degrees of forcefulness. There could be talking groups, some kind of bootcamp filled with rituals, so-called healing prayers, or exorcisms.

All this pseudotherapy does is make gay people feel guilty, causing self-hatred and pushing them towards alcoholism, depression or even suicide.

That’s why some countries are trying to put an end to these practices. It’s already the case in Brazil, China and Malta, where measures have been taken against conversion therapy.

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