HARRISBURG, PA — The State Boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine of Pennsylvania have issued statements opposing the practice of conversion therapy on minors. These statements of policies (SOPs), ratified last week, label this pseudoscientific practice a form of unprofessional and harmful conduct. Any licensed professional partaking in this discredited practice could face potential disciplinary action.
These pronouncements resonate with the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to promoting the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians, particularly the protection of LGBTQ+ youth. Support is anticipated from the state boards of Medicine, Nursing, and Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors, who are slated to follow suit with similar proposals in the coming weeks.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt contends, “Professional studies have shown that conversion therapy poses significant health risks to LGBTQ+ youth, and there is no place for this dangerous practice in Pennsylvania. We’re hopeful the state boards will follow suit and adopt Statements of Policies that oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors.”
Conversion therapy, occasionally labeled as reparative therapy, sexuality counseling, or sexual orientation/gender identity change efforts, has long been mired in controversy. This practice, which attempts or professes to alter an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, has been deemed harmful by numerous global health organizations. Its numerous opponents cite lack of scientific evidence supporting it and its heightened risk to minors.
The fight against conversion therapy in the state has seen notable strides over recent years. Former Governor Tom Wolf passed an Executive Order against conversion therapy in August 2022. However, The Trevor Project, a national organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, suggests that the issue remains unresolved in the Commonwealth.
Troy Stevenson, Director of State Advocacy Campaigns at The Trevor Project, affirms, “As we witness a record wave of anti-LGBTQ+ policies in states across the country, we are thrilled to see the Shapiro Administration take action to protect LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians against conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is deeply harmful, and LGBTQ+ young people who have undergone it reported more than twice the likelihood of attempting suicide in the previous year compared to their peers.”
In response to these worrying trends, three additional state licensing boards – Medicine, Nursing, and Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors – are scheduled to vote on the new SOP at their April and May public meetings.
Ashleigh Strange, Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, expresses joy at these steps taken to shield the state’s LGBTQ+ community from further harm due to this dangerous practice. According to Strange, these statements from the licensure boards signify that the voices of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians, advocates, and commissioners are heard, respected, and protected in the Commonwealth.
The adoption of the new policy is viewed as a public safety measure, with Schmidt asserting that the lack of evidence to support the use of conversion therapy, plus the commanding opposition within the medical and psychological professions, necessitates this action.
Upon its publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the new SOP will be effective immediately, signaling a renewed approach to confronting the pressing issue of conversion therapy in Pennsylvania. The state’s administration, medical boards, as well as advocacy organizations like The Trevor Project continue to fight for the health, safety, and rights of all Pennsylvanians, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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