Groups Seek to Reframe, Legitimize Conversion Therapy in U.S.
Groups like the CHANGED Movement are working to legitimize conversion therapy in the U.S. by reframing it as a "new way forward" for individuals seeking to leave LGBTQ+ identities, arguing it addresses unhealed trauma. These efforts include lobbying federal advisory…
Grand Rapids Kalamazoo Battle Creek, MI, October 9, 2026 —
Advocacy groups, including the CHANGED Movement, are actively working to legitimize conversion therapy practices within the United States. These organizations are seeking to reframe the controversial approach, presenting it as a “new way forward” for individuals who wish to disavow their LGBTQ+ identities. Their stated rationale often centers on the idea that these therapies address underlying issues such as unhealed trauma.
Efforts by these groups are multi-faceted. They involve lobbying federal advisory committees, specifically focusing on standards for mental health training. Additionally, these organizations are providing support for legal challenges that aim to overturn existing state-level bans on conversion therapy. The overarching goal appears to be a significant shift in public perception, which could, in turn, influence insurance coverage and professional licensing practices related to these therapeutic methods.
However, these initiatives face substantial opposition. Major mental health organizations across the country have consistently voiced strong objections to conversion therapy. These professional bodies maintain that the practice is both harmful and ineffective, arguing against its legitimacy and its potential impact on individuals’ well-being.
The specific details regarding the timeline of these lobbying efforts, the names of federal advisory committees involved, or the outcomes of any legal challenges were not provided in the trend summary. Similarly, the specific methods by which these groups aim to address trauma or the exact nature of their proposed training standards for mental health professionals were not detailed.
Story summarized from the original created by Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez on time.com, see more information here.
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