White House Looking Toward Ban on Conversion Therapy

The controversial methods employed across the country have left emotional scarring for generations.

The White House has announced that they are looking into banning conversion therapy after receiving a petition that stemmed from a transgender teen’s suicide, CNN reports. The petition that the White House received had well over 120,000 signatures from all over the country. When shown the petition, President Obama’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett expressed that the “overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm.”

“As part of our dedication to protecting America’s youth, this administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors,” she continued.

The ban would mean that summer camps, churches, or psychologists could no longer claim that they can administer therapy that can change a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight. While the ban would require congressional approval, some states have already taken to banning the therapy. New Jersey and California were among the first states to do so. There has been very little proof that these therapies work, but there have been a lot of cases where the therapy has caused harm. 

This declaration is on the heels of another monumental decision by the Obama administration: they have opened a gender neutral bathroom in one of the busiest wings of the White House. “The White House allows staff and guests to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which is in keeping with the administration’s existing legal guidance on this issue and consistent with what is required by the executive order that took effect today for federal contractors,” White House spokesman Jeff Tiller told CNN. “In addition, an all-gender restroom is also available in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which provides guests and staff an additional option.”