Democratic Lawmakers Urge Federal Trade Commission to Take Action to Stop Harmful, Fraudulent ‘Conversion Therapy’ for LGBT Youth

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) sent a letter to Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing their concern over the continued practice of sexual orientation change efforts, commonly referred to as “conversion therapy.” In the letter, the lawmakers explained how the widely discredited practice harms the healthy development of youth, and they urged the FTC to use their authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act to take decisive action to stop the unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practice.

“We write to you to express our deep concern with the continued practice of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), commonly referred to as ‘conversion therapy.’ This practice falsely promises to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” the Members of Congress wrote in the letter. “We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take all actions possible to stop the unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practice of conversion therapy under the authority provided to your agency in the Federal Trade Commission Act.”

California, New Jersey, Oregon, and the District of Columbia prohibit doctors and therapists from using conversion therapy on children. State legislation to ban conversion therapy has been introduced in more than a dozen other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. 

Full text of the letter:

Chairwoman Edith Ramirez

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Room 404

Washington, DC  20580

Dear Chairwoman Ramirez:

We write to you to express our deep concern with the continued practice of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), commonly referred to as “conversion therapy.” This practice falsely promises to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take all actions possible to stop the unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practice of conversion therapy under the authority provided to your agency in the Federal Trade Commission Act. 

Conversion therapy, also known as “reparative” or “sexual orientation” therapy, is a practice that has been widely discredited by nearly all major American medical, psychiatric, psychological, professional counseling, educational, and social work professional organizations. In 2009, the nation’s largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology, the American Psychological Association, conducted a systematic review of the evidence on SOCE.  The report concluded that “efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates.”

Perhaps most concerning are the effects of this harmful therapy on children and youth. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children and youth are at increased risk of suicide, substance use disorder, and engaging in other high risk behaviors compared to their peers. Therapeutic support can be useful for children and youth who are LGBT or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, resulting in more confidence and acceptance, which are important elements of healthy child development. However, conversion therapy provokes guilt, anxiety, and societal rejection that negatively impacts healthy development of children and youth, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners. 

We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take decisive action to stop the unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practice of “conversion therapy” under the authority provided to your agency in the Federal Trade Commission Act. We thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray                                                                                       Cory A. Booker

United States Senator                                                                         United States Senator

Jackie Speier                                                                                       Ted W. Lieu

Member of Congress                                                                           Member of Congress