President Obama has now called for an end to "conversion therapies" that seek to counsel youths out of their gay, lesbian or transgender identifications. These programs have been shown to have absolutely devastating effects on young people who are told that who they are is not acceptable. Late last year a 17-year-old transgender girl committed suicide after religious therapists tried to counsel her to be a boy again.
These therapies are dangerous, can result in life-long emotional distress, have been medically discredited, and in a modern society are widely accepted as a complete violation of the patient's rights. California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have banned therapists from offering this treatment to minors. Bans are being considered in 18 other states.
Please sign this petition telling the Family Research Council -- the main organization supporting these therapies -- that you do NOT support ineffective and damaging therapies that try to convince LGBT youth that they are somehow damaged because of who they love.
