The National Association of Social Works (NASW) applauds the Obama Administration for clearly stating “this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors.”
NASW reaffirms its stance against reparative therapy and other sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) designed to change sexual orientation or to refer clients to practitioners or programs that claim to do so.
NASW does not condone nor support the use of SOCE or so-called Reparative Therapies by any person identifying as a social worker or any agency that identifies as providing social work services. Public dollars should also not be used to support SOCE.
Participate in the We the People on-line petition for federal law against reparative therapy. And be sure to read “A Guide for Understanding, Supporting, and Affirming LGBTQI2-S Children, Youth and Families” from the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. NASW endorsed this document.
No evidence exists that reparative therapy or conversion therapy is effective. Instead it has had a negative impact on the mental health and self-esteem of individuals. Best practices call for interventions that are of LGBT youth and adults.
Starting in 1992, NASW has issued updated position statements recognized the negative and stigmatizing impact of the use of ‘conversion or reparative therapies’ in an attempt to change of modify a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
For more information contact NASW Senior Policy Associate Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, at etomaszewski@naswdc.org.
