As you may have noticed, this platform provides a unique opportunity for individuals to share their stories and personal experiences. Today, I had the privilege of speaking with someone who wishes to remain anonymous as they share their story. While they did not write it out, we spoke over the phone and they recounted their journey with me.
I spoke with a person who wished to remain anonymous about their experience with conversion therapy. They wanted to share their story in the hope that it would help others understand the dangers of this practice.
Growing up, this person knew that they were attracted to the same gender, but they were also deeply religious. They believed that homosexuality was a sin and that they needed to change their orientation. When they were in their early twenties, they heard about conversion therapy and decided to give it a try.
At first, they thought that the therapy was working. The therapist told them that their attraction to the same gender was a result of childhood trauma and that by dealing with those traumas, they could change their orientation. They spent months in therapy, talking about their childhood and trying to understand why they were attracted to the same gender.
However, as time went on, they began to feel more and more isolated. They couldn’t talk to their friends or family about their struggles because they were ashamed of their attraction to the same gender. They started to feel depressed and anxious, and they began to have thoughts of suicide.
They also realized that the therapy wasn’t working. Despite all of their efforts, they were still attracted to the same gender. They began to feel hopeless and desperate, and they wished that they had never started the therapy in the first place.
After a few more months of therapy, they decided to stop. They knew that the therapy was making them feel worse, not better, and they realized that they needed to accept themselves for who they were. They began to connect with the LGBTQIA community and found support and acceptance from others who had gone through similar experiences.
Today, this person is much happier and healthier. They are still attracted to the same gender, but they have learned to accept themselves for who they are. They know that conversion therapy is harmful and that it has no place in a just and compassionate society.
Their experience is not unique. Thousands of people have gone through conversion therapy and have been harmed by it. That’s why it’s so important to continue to raise awareness about this issue and to push for a ban on conversion therapy.
While many states have banned conversion therapy, there is still a long way to go. In some parts of the world, conversion therapy is still legal, and LGBTQIA individuals are being subjected to this harmful practice every day.
It’s important to remember that conversion therapy is not about helping people. It’s about promoting a harmful and discriminatory ideology that has no scientific basis. Conversion therapy is rooted in homophobia and transphobia, and it has no place in a modern and just society.
If you or someone you know has been subjected to conversion therapy, know that you are not alone. There is support available, and there are people who care about you and want to help you. Reach out to LGBTQIA support groups or mental health professionals who are trained to work with LGBTQIA individuals.
It’s time to put an end to conversion therapy once and for all. We must work together to promote love, acceptance, and equality for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
