Conversion Therapy
Conversion therapy involve attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Over the years and across Canada, there have been numerous discussions to ban this practice completely. Many places have banned the practice for minors. If you were assigned to a workforce set up to make recommendations on this practice, what recommendations would you make? Provide evidence for your recommendation.
Sample Solution
Conversion Therapy
Conversion therapy is a form of discrimination and repression, which harms victims and may further isolate them. Many acts of conversion therapy bear strong similarities to internationally acknowledged acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. These acts will subject the individual to significant or severe mental and physical pain and suffering with long-term harmful effects, as the treatment is inherently humiliating, demeaning and discriminatory. Children and minors are particularly vulnerable, with a sharp increase of suicidal and depressive tendencies in those who have experienced conversion therapy. Health professionals should refuse to conduct conversion therapy and should report colleagues who advertise or perform it to the authorities. National medical and mental health associations should take the appropriate steps to work with state authorities and governments to pass laws which ban conversion therapy. Furthermore, states have a responsibility to regulate health and education services and rid it of this harmful practice, which some promote.
