Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Gay 'conversion therapy' for minors opposed by ABA House leaders

“Conversion therapy,” which seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, has been rejected by a long list of medical organizations, James J.S. Holmes told the ABA’s House of Delegates on Tuesday.

Holmes, the outgoing chair of the ABA’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, spoke in favor of Resolution 112 (PDF). He said conversion therapy has been rejected because it’s ineffective, unnecessary, contrary to the medical understanding of identity and risks serious harm to the patient. Minors in particular are vulnerable, he said, because they often have no choice and are vulnerable to “shame-based technologies.”

“It’s a fraud. It’s an unfair, deceptive practice,” said Holmes, a partner at Sedgwick’s Los Angeles office. “It causes harm and it must be stopped.”

At least four jurisdictions—California, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia—have passed laws forbidding licensed professionals from performing this kind of therapy on minors. The House passed the resolution without opposition.

Gay 'conversion therapy' for minors opposed by ABA House leaders

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