What good can telling someone their sexuality is wrong and attempting to change them do? The answer to this question should be obvious, it can’t do any good, yet it is a highly debated topic. Conversion therapy has recently become an even more controversial issue with same-sex marriage now legal in all fifty states. However, in The Miseducation of Cameron Post conversion therapy is an accepted part of society. In fact most anti-gay religious communities find it essential for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender youth to be sent away to “break away from their sexual confusion.” (pg. 252) However, Cameron finds that God’s Promise Center For Healing is not such a great environment for her LGBTQ+ peers. In fact, a new federal agency report …show more content…
Gay conversion therapy is based on the belief that there is something wrong with being lesbian, bisexual, gay, or transgender, which is absurd. It also “perpetuates outdated views of gender roles and identities as well as the negative stereotype that being a sexual or gender minority or identifying as LGBTQ+ is an abnormal aspect of human development.” Feeding children these negative beliefs about their sexuality or gender can “fuel self-hatred, depression, and anxiety.” We see this demonstrated in The Miseducation of Cameron Post when a child has a mental break during a group therapy sessions. The child, Mark, rants about the unjustifiable disapproval of the church of his sexuality during their group therapy session, but no one thought much of it. Until later that night Mark’s roommate found that he had violently mutilated his own body. Perhaps this was a suicide attempt, or maybe just a way for him to deal with his anxiety and depression. No matter what the reason this poor child felt the need to mutilate his own body, it is undoubtably a consequence of the self-hatred he had developed due to the church trying to change an immutable part of
Even though these practices have hurt, or even killed some of their “patients,” there are still some survivors, and journalists that have proven that conversion therapy does not work.
Scientists in fields connected to neurobiology and psychiatry remain mystified about the cause of Conversion Disorder. The disorder is characterized by physical symptoms of a neurological disorder, yet no direct problem can be found in the nervous system or other related systems of the body. This fact alone is not unusual; many diseases and symptoms have unknown origins. Conversion Disorder, however, seems to stem from "trivial" to traumatic psychological events and emotions rather than biological events. The extreme symptoms often disappear as quickly as they appear without the patient consciously controlling or feigning them. Thus, Conversion Disorder serves as a significant example of how blurred the conceived demarcated divisions of mind/body/behavior can be.
Treatments such as conversion therapy have been thoroughly debated by doctors, everyday civilians and even politicians. The question surrounding the topic asks whether or not the treatment is ethically and morally acceptable. Conversion therapy is an option of treatment catering to the LGBTQ community that claims to be able to change a person’s sexual behaviors such as orientation, preference and identity. The main controversies on the topic argue the physical and psychological side effects, treatment options and whether or not different sexual behaviors are mental illnesses that requires treatment.
Making a stands that being a homosexual is natural and homosexuality isn’t a mental disorder. Conversion or reparative therapy only suppress their sexual conduct, not their sexual desires. Those type of therapy infuses shame and guilt in a person which can cause the person the shutdown. Secondly, conversion therapy can make a person feel like they have no way out. The highly disapproved therapy can push a person to make a bad rational decision possibly committing suicide. LGBT people are three to seven times more likely to commit suicide. Thirdly, they promote sexual orientation is a choice but your sexual orientation is not a choice. Conversion and Reparative therapy are supported by James Dobson which created a Christian organization called “ Focus On The
Oliver is someone who denied the truth to himself for months. He was gay and he had finally accepted it. He told his parents, hoping that they’d accept him but unfortunately it was the complete opposite. They thought there was something wrong with him and decided he needed to go to conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is something that thousands of people in the LGBT community go through every ear. Statistics show that about one in three LGBT people have been subjected to some form of conversion therapy (#BornPerfect: The Campaign to End Conversion Therapy, 2014). Conversion therapy is a psychological treatment whose purpose is to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. It needs to be banned because it doesn’t work, therapists
“Homosexuality is found in over 1,500 species. Homophobia is found in only one” ("1,500 Animal” 1). Conversion therapy, or otherwise known as “reparative therapy,” is a homophobic process by which many therapists attempt to “cure” homosexuality. Conversion Therapy demonstrates the ignorance of this world by causing mental and physical harm to its participants in an attempt to “cure” something that is not a problem, and that is why the federal government needs to ban it once and for all.
Conversion Therapy, also known as Reparative Therapy, is defined as a multitude of dangerous practices that claim to change a person’s sexuality or gender (hrc.org). The goal of Conversion Therapy is to try and make the patients behave stereotypically more feminine or masculine, teach heterosexual dating skills, and redirect arousal all together (dailybeast.com). However, the consequences of Conversion Therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, suicide, or catching and transmitting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (hrc.org). Some of the techniques used are vomiting, inducing nausea, or paralysis while showing homoerotic images (huffingtonpost.com).
Currently in today’s society, coming out as gay is easier than admitting to a serious mental problem. This effect puts a burden on teens who suffer from problems and don’t know where to go; which led to the increase of teen suicides as seen in the media. In the average classroom size, about three of the twenty-four students have depression; not mentioning other common disorders such as bipolar disorder, panic disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, and eating disorders. Without better programs in schools to prevent and inform about mental disorders, the current taboo on them, the bullying of students suffering, and the romanticization of diseases will continue to increase the negative effect mental disorders have on teens.
The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to cause a person enough mental stress that they would take their own life. This is always unfortunate, but in the case of young individuals it borders on unthinkable. Older LGBT individuals do not tend to fair much better either seeing as they were raised in generations who were stricter on what was considered proper and morally right. All this being said, even as the culture of the world shifts to more accepting LGBT individuals their mental health is something that is only now being looked at thoroughly.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, Conversion therapy is a practice that claims to be able to "turn gay people straight" through therapy. Conversion therapy leads to a variety of negative side effects. According to the Human Rights Campaign, "minors are especially vulnerable, and conversion therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide." Conversion therapy is a horrific practice that should be banned in all fifty states. Conversion therapy is a horrible practice that should be
“What’s the big whoop?” asks a cute, blonde, elementary school aged boy when his teacher discusses homosexuality. He didn’t understand why people cared who other people loved. Little kids are perfect examples of how society’s negativity towards homosexuality creates homophobia. Children don’t understand why it matters who you love because they don’t see it as a problem and their opinions aren’t clouded by stereotypes. If LGBT issues were taught to these innocent, uninvolved children in elementary school, it would be more likely they would be accepting as they grew up. It is important to present LGBT in a positive light before parents, classmates, and media influence their perceptions.
The following essay will evaluate the importance of the journey that takes place from Systematic to Practical theology; this view will be explored through Ronelle Sonnenberg’s research done regarding ‘being together’ in a youth setting. This essay will first build on the basis of Practical Theology; furthermore addressing the importance of the community aspect within a youth setting; this will lead to the process that takes place between a Systematic stance, leading to a Practical theological stance.
The shepherd and sheep relationship is the best illustration for the relationship between pastor and parishioners. When Jesus asked Simon Peter does he love him three times and said to him “Feed my sheep”, the shepherd and flock relationship has been set. Since Jesus is our good shepherd (Jn. 10:11a), he laid out a good example for us to follow - to lay down his life for the sheep. (Jn. 10:11b) Thus, the wellness of both in and out of the parishioners should always be the concern in the pastors’ hearts. Soul care for the people is essential. Christian friendship is the foundation of Christian soul care. Pastoral ministry including preaching, teaching, and worship forms the broad context of pastoral counseling. Pastoral care is within pastoral ministry but broader than pastoral counseling. God’s love is the source and motivation. Within the pastoral care, there are spiritual direction and pastoral
Here are questions that need to be addressed, and we will know if the question of ethics were crossed. How does the psychologist know if the conversion therapy will actually work? Because I do not believe conversion therapy can be scientifically reproduced. Apparently the patient seeks out the psychologist for help on this matter; but what is there in place to ensure that this type of therapy actually do work once it is completed by the psychologist? I believe if such proof was available, it would’ve been scientifically noted and there would be less negativity about the subject.
INDTRODUCTION “Sex and Religion”? Those two don’t really go hand in hand,” commented a freshman student from UF. Like this student, numerous people around the world believe this misconception to be true. Whether people argue for or against the importance of gender in religion, more than just what goes on in the bedroom has been heating up lately. Many debates have sparked due to the negative connotation associated with sex when confronted about its position in religious cultures.