Selects: How Conversion Therapy Doesn't Work

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode dismantles conversion therapy as a discredited, harmful practice with roots in early psychiatry and later adoption by the Christian right. Josh and Chuck trace its history, explain its flawed assumptions about sexuality and family dynamics, highlight abusive techniques and failed “success” stories, and note growing legal and professional opposition based on both scientific consensus and documented harm.

Main Topics: Definition and framing of conversion therapy (Priority: 5/5): The hosts define conversion therapy/reparative therapy/ex-gay therapy as attempts to change a person's sexual orientation from gay to straight, usually by claiming homosexuality results from trauma, family dynamics, or environmental factors. Historical origins in 19th- and 20th-century psychology (Priority: 4/5): They trace the practice back to late-1800s hypnosis, then discuss earlier medical/psychological attempts such as electroconvulsive therapy, lobotomies, hormones, and testicular transplants. Christian right adoption and culture-war politics (Priority: 5/5): The discussion explains how the ex-gay movement became a major plank in conservative Christian activism and was even reflected in the 2016 Republican Party platform. Joseph Nicolosi and reparative therapy (Priority: 5/5): A major section focuses on Nicolosi’s reparative therapy model, which claimed same-sex attraction stems from childhood trauma, absent fathers, domineering mothers, or unmet masculine needs. Harms, abuse, and psychological damage (Priority: 5/5): The hosts describe aversive methods, humiliation, family coercion, and suicide risk, arguing that even milder versions reinforce shame and identity rejection. Scientific and medical consensus against conversion efforts (Priority: 5/5): They review APA findings that homosexuality is a normal variation in human sexuality and that change efforts do not work and can produce serious mental-health harms. Legal backlash and public reversals (Priority: 4/5): The episode covers state and local bans for minors, fraud lawsuits, and prominent ex-gay leaders who later repudiated the movement or came out as gay/bisexual.

Key Arguments: Conversion therapy is based on a false premise: that homosexuality is a disorder or a deviation that can be corrected. The scientific and psychological communities have rejected homosexuality as a mental disorder and do not support orientation change. Many conversion practices cause serious harm, including shame, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and family trauma. Some versions are overtly abusive, while others are deceptively gentle but still aim to suppress identity rather than help the patient. The Christian right adopted conversion therapy as part of a broader culture war against LGBTQ people and feminism. High-profile defections and scandals exposed the practice’s failures and helped shift public opinion and policy. Banning conversion therapy for minors is framed as regulating harmful professional conduct, not restricting belief or speech.

Data Points: Estimated number of people in the U.S. who have undergone conversion therapy: about 700,000 - Cited during the discussion of prevalence in the United States Year homosexuality was removed as a mental disorder by the APA: 1973 - The American Psychological Association changed its classification Year of a major pro-conversion ad campaign: 1998 - Church groups spent about $600,000 on ads promoting ex-gay testimony Amount spent on the ad campaign: $600,000 - Mentioned in relation to the 1998 New York Times and Los Angeles Times ads Year of APA task force report on therapeutic responses to sexual orientation: 2009 - Referenced as the basis for the APA’s formal condemnation Number of U.S. states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico with bans for minors: 18 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico - Described as of 2019 in the episode Age of the child in George Rekers’ case: 4.5 years old - The child was forced into therapy for 'cross-gender identity' Age of a patient quoted in relation to Nicolosi: early teens - The American Prospect author describes being in therapy as a teenager Duration of a hypnosis case cited from 1899: 45 sessions - Early historical example of attempted conversion Harm list from APA report: multiple outcomes including depression, shame, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, suicidality - Summarizing the report’s findings on sexual-orientation change efforts Relative suicide risk after conversion therapy: 3 times as likely - Homosexual teens were described as being three times more likely to attempt suicide if they had undergone conversion therapy Relative suicide risk after parental rejection: 2 times as likely - Homosexual teens were described as twice as likely to attempt suicide if rejected by parents

Pivotal Quotes: "conversion therapy is in essence a fraud" — Josh Clark: He argues the practice promises a change that science says is impossible "sexual orientation change efforts can pose critical health risks to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people" — APA Task Force report (quoted by hosts): Used to summarize the medical consensus against conversion efforts "You can't make a straight person gay any more than you can make a gay person straight" — Chuck Bryant / paraphrased APA position: Explaining the APA’s view that homosexuality is a normal variation, not a disorder

Implications: Listeners should understand conversion therapy as medically discredited and potentially dangerous. The episode suggests future policy will continue moving toward bans for minors, accountability for licensed practitioners, and broader rejection of identity-erasure tactics.