Conversion Therapy Argumentative Essay

The United States is known as the land of the free, and the Statue of Liberty stands tall with her arms outstretched to welcome people to this great nation. Sadly there are people within the country that do not feel welcome, and there are not enough laws to protect those that are different. Only 9 states along with the District of Columbia have banned the practice of conversion therapy, despite the fact that there is no scientific proof that it even works. In addition, the American Psychological Association (APA) states that “there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation”. (Para 7). In the year 2018, why is this backwards practice still allowed to be part of society? Conversion therapy is an unethical and fraudulent practice that should be banned in the United States.
It is astounding that prominent issues such as conversion therapy are left up to the states to decide. Only 9 states have passed laws to protect its citizens against conversion therapy; what about the people living in the other 41 states? All lives in America should be valued, one state’s population is

A damaging decision such as conversion therapy should not be in the hands of another person. According to Clarissa Filgioun, president of the California Equality board, “These dangerous, unscientific practices have caused too many young people to take their own lives or suffer lifelong harm after being told, falsely, that who they are—and who they love—is wrong, sick, or the result of personal or moral failure” (Wood, para 9). Young people have taken their own lives because of the emotional distress caused by conversion therapy. Nobody has the right to attempt to change another person’s sexuality against their will, no matter if they are a parent, guardian, or a