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Official White House Response to Enact Leelah's Law to Ban All LGBTQ+
Conversion Therapy Response to Your Petition on Conversion Therapy
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/
response-your-petition-conversion-therapy
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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http://tinyurl.com/krwdott
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fficial White House Response to Enact Leelah's Law to Ban All LGBTQ+
Conversion Therapy Response to Your Petition on Conversion Therapy
By Valerie Jarrett
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Tonight, somewhere in America, a young person, let's say a young man, will
struggle to fall to sleep, wrestling alone with a secret he's held as long
as he can remember. Soon, perhaps, he will decide it's time to let that
secret out. What happens next depends on him, his family, as well as his
friends and his teachers and his community. But it also depends on us --
on the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we build.
-- President Barack Obama
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Thank you for taking the time to sign on to this petition in support of
banning the practice known as conversion therapy.
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Conversion therapy generally refers to any practices by mental health
providers that seek to change an individuals sexual orientation or gender
identity.[1] Often, this practice is used on minors, who lack the legal
authority to make their own medical and mental health decisions. We share
your concern about its potentially devastating effects on the lives of
transgender as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer youth.
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When assessing the validity of conversion therapy, or other practices that
seek to change an individuals gender identity or sexual orientation, it is
as imperative to seek guidance from certified medical experts. 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.
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As part of our dedication to protecting Americas youth, this
Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for
minors.
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The use of conversion therapy
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The medical and mental health communities have long made clear that they
reject the practice of conversion therapy, aimed at changing ones sexual
orientation. Recently, efforts to change an individuals gender identity
have also been shown in countless instances to have dangerous effects.
More than 40 years ago, the American Psychiatric Association declassified
homosexuality as a mental disorder, and in 1998 released a statement
[opposing] any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion
therapy. It asserted that such directed efforts are against fundamental
principles of psychoanalytic treatment and often result in substantial
psychological pain by reinforcing damaging internalized attitudes.[2]
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Similarly, the American Psychological Association has repeatedly affirmed
its stance against these practices, recently stating that efforts to
change an individuals sexual orientation can pose serious health risks to
LGBTQ+ individuals. Numerous other accredited medical and mental health
organizations have echoed this sentiment, including the World Health
Organization, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and
the American Counseling Association.
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Steps by states
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As part of their duty to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of
their citizens, several states have taken their own steps to protect
minors from the potentially dangerous effects of conversion therapy.
California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have all banned
licensed professionals from using conversion therapy on minors. Since last
year, lawmakers in 18 other states have introduced similar legislation.
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In a 2013 signing statement for his states legislative ban, New Jersey
Gov. Chris Christie expressed that exposing children to these health risks
without clear evidence of the benefits that outweigh these serious risks
is not appropriate.[3] In February 2015, a New Jersey Superior Court judge
ruled that advertising a service that could change a persons sexuality is
fraudulent and violates the states consumer protection laws.
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While a national ban would require congressional action, we are hopeful
that the clarity of the evidence combined with the actions taken by these
states will lead to broader action that this Administration would support.
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The importance of family support
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Family relationships are pivotal to the physical and emotional well-being
of any child, including LGBTQ+ youth. Every child needs love, support, and
acceptance to grow, dream, and thrive. LGBTQ+ youth with supportive
families and friends show greater well-being, better general health, and
significantly decreased risk for suicide, depression, and substance
abuse.[4]
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Countless families and guardians across the country proudly support their
LGBTQ+ children. Too many LGBTQ+ youth, however, lack this support system,
which can have devastating consequences. Negative family reactions to
LGBTQ+ youth can be perceived as rejection by children, often contributing
to serious health issues and inhibiting a childs development and
well-being.[5] And when it comes to LGBTQ+ youth, some actions by family
and caregivers can be harmful, despite even the best intentions.
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This Administration believes that young people should be valued for who
they are, no matter what they look like, where theyre from, the gender
with which they identify, or who they love.
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We hope that the resources below can be of use to LGBTQ+ youth, their
families, and friends.
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LGBTQ+ youth issues are an Administration priority: Resources for LGBTQ+
youth, their families, and friends
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Bullying
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In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services launched
StopBullying.gov, aimed at providing valuable resources and support to
youth, parents, and community members with the goal of building a safe
environment for all youth, including LGBTQ+ youth.
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Family acceptance
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
supports positive dialogues between providers, families, and LGBTQ+ youth,
and has developed A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to
Support Their LGBT Children to help providers implement best practices in
engaging and helping families and caregivers to support their LGBTQ+
children.
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LGBTQ+ youth homelessness
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To advance the Administration's goal of ending youth homelessness by 2020,
federal agencies have developed partnerships to create and promote a
research-informed framework that focuses on improving data quality and
service capacity to support highly vulnerable homeless youth, including
LGBTQ+ youth, youth involved in the foster care or juvenile justice
systems, and pregnant and parenting youth.
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Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.
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[1] See generally California Senate Bill No. 1172 (2012).
[2] American Psychoanalytic Association, Position Statement on Attempts to
Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression (2012).
[3] New Jersey Governor Chris Christies Statement Upon Signing Assembly
Bill No. 3371 (Aug. 19, 2013).
[4] (SAMHSA, p. 5).
[5] (SAMHSA, p. 2).
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Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jwne@xxxxxxxxxx
http://workface.com/e/daviddillard
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