Coercive conversion therapy is an umbrella term for various harmful interventions aiming to change a person's gender identity or sexual orientation from gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer to heterosexual. This practice can have devastating effects on people who identify themselves outside of societal norms. It includes forced isolation, shame, guilt, and rejection. In some cases, it can even lead to self-harm or suicide.
Its long-term impact goes beyond personal struggles and affects entire communities and society.
The psychological consequences of coercive conversion therapy include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, and poor mental health. Survivors often experience feelings of worthlessness, anger, fear, and hopelessness, which are difficult to overcome without professional help. The process of changing one's sexuality or gender identity is traumatic and leads to self-doubt, confusion, and a sense of betrayal. LGBTQ individuals undergoing this treatment may feel alienated from their families and friends, causing social withdrawal and loneliness. These issues often require years of therapy to address, leading to high costs in terms of time and resources.
Coercive conversion therapy has negative social implications, such as increased stigmatization and discrimination against the LGBTQ community. It reinforces stereotypes about homosexuals as unnatural, sick, or sinful and creates a hostile environment where people live in constant fear of being 'outed.' This situation can lead to violence, harassment, and even death threats for those who openly express their identities.
Survivors of these treatments have difficulty finding support networks outside of traditional religious institutions that promote them. As a result, they become isolated and alone, unable to seek help when needed.
Coercive conversion therapy has profound effects on communities at large. It perpetuates harmful myths about sexual orientation and gender identity, creating divisions within society based on prejudice and bigotry. It also contributes to a climate of intolerance and hatred towards queer individuals, making it challenging to build safe spaces for everyone regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.
It increases the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by promoting risky behavior among those who are afraid to be honest about their sexual orientation.
Coercive conversion therapy is an insidious practice with long-term psychological, social, and community impacts on the LGBTQ community. Its effects go beyond personal struggles and affect entire societies. It requires immediate action from governments, medical professionals, and religious leaders worldwide to address this issue and protect vulnerable populations.
What are the long-term psychological, social, and community impacts of coercive conversion therapy on LGBTQ individuals?
Research shows that coercive conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy or ex-gay therapy, is an umbrella term for a wide range of practices aimed at changing someone's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual (McGowan et al. , 2018).