Harrisburg, Pa. — The State Boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania have unanimously voted to adopt new Statement of Policies that strongly oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors, according to the Department of State.
The policies state that the boards consider conversion therapy to be unprofessional and harmful conduct, and any licensee found engaging in it may face administrative discipline.
The Shapiro Administration, which is committed to the well-being of all Pennsylvanians, has welcomed this decision and commended the boards for taking action to protect LGBTQ+ minors. Similar proposals to oppose conversion therapy will be voted upon by the state boards of Medicine, Nursing, and Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors in the coming weeks.
Conversion therapy, which goes by various names such as reparative therapy, sexuality counseling, or sexual orientation/gender identity change efforts, refers to practices that aim to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Numerous professional studies have demonstrated the significant health risks associated with conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth, leading to the conclusion that it has no place in Pennsylvania.
In August 2022, former Governor Tom Wolf issued an Executive Order to protect Pennsylvanians from conversion therapy. However, The Trevor Project, a national organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ young people, has presented evidence to the relevant state boards indicating that conversion therapy remains an issue in the Commonwealth.
The Shapiro Administration has expressed gratitude to The Trevor Project for its ongoing efforts in suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. The aim is to ensure that all Pennsylvanians feel supported and protected by the Commonwealth.
Troy Stevenson, the Director of State Advocacy Campaigns at The Trevor Project, has praised the Shapiro Administration's action, particularly in light of a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ policies being implemented across the country.
Stevenson emphasized the harm caused by conversion therapy, citing studies that showed LGBTQ+ young people who underwent it were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers.
The collaboration between The Trevor Project, the National Association of Social Workers' Pennsylvania Chapter, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and state officials has been instrumental in pushing for the adoption of these measures to safeguard the health and safety of young people in the state.
Following the recent meetings of the State Board of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine, three additional state licensing boards – Medicine, Nursing, and Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors – are scheduled to vote on the new SOP during their public meetings in April and May.
The Governor's Advisory Commission, represented by Ashleigh Strange, the Executive Director of the Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, has expressed overwhelming joy and appreciation for the decisive action taken to protect the LGBTQ+ community from the harms of conversion therapy. Strange emphasized that the licensure boards' statements demonstrate that the voices of LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians, advocates, and commissioners are being heard, respected, and protected in the Commonwealth.
Numerous national and global health associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, and World Psychiatric Association, strongly oppose conversion therapy due to its lack of scientific evidence and the increased risk it poses to minors.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt highlighted the absence of evidence supporting the efficacy of conversion therapy and the overwhelming opposition to the practice within medical and psychological professions. Schmidt emphasized that the new policy serves as a public safety measure to ensure that professional medical and mental health care licensees are aware that conversion therapy will not be tolerated in Pennsylvania.
The new SOP will take effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. In the event that any licensed professional engages in unprofessional or harmful conduct like conversion therapy, individuals are encouraged to file a complaint through the Department of State website.
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