Prayers for a “Cure”: the human cost of conversion therapy

They promise change in whispers from pulpits, in offices behind closed doors, in summer camps and church basements. They promise a “cure” for something many never asked to be fixed. What follows is not science — it is damage dressed as help. This is the story of conversion therapy: where it came from, what it actually does, and the people it leaves behind.

What it is — short and sharp

“Conversion therapy” (also called reparative therapy, sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts — SOGICE/SOCE) is any set of practices that attempts to change, suppress, or “repair” a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Those practices range from talk-based counseling and prayer-groups to aversive techniques (shocks, induced vomiting, isolation) and coercive programs. The American Psychological Association and similar professional bodies define and classify these practices as attempts to change LGBTQ+ identities. APA Dictionary+1

Where it came from — a short history

The idea that same-sex attraction or gender diversity is a pathology has deep roots in psychiatric and social thought from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Early psychoanalytic and behavioral experiments treated homosexuality and gender nonconformity as problems to be fixed; throughout the 20th century many clinicians, religious ministries, and institutions offered various “cures.” Over time mainstream medicine shifted: by the late 20th and early 21st centuries major medical associations began calling the practice unscientific and harmful. Notable is the arc of early clinical experiments, Spitzer’s influential but later-recanted study, and the subsequent repudiations by medical groups. HISTORY+1

The evidence: can it “work”?

There is no credible, replicable scientific evidence that conversion therapy reliably changes a person’s underlying sexual orientation or gender identity. Major health and psychiatric organizations say the benefits that some claim to experience can be achieved through supportive, non-coercive therapy — not attempts to change identity — and that conversion practices are associated with increased harm, including depression, substance misuse, and suicidal behavior. American Psychological Association+1

A few details worth holding onto:

• Large surveys and systematic reviews find measurable prevalence: roughly one study-level estimate is that around 10–13% of LGBTQ youth report being subjected to some form of conversion effort, with higher exposure among transgender and nonbinary youth. The Trevor Project+1

• Peer-reviewed studies link recalled exposure to conversion practices with significantly higher odds of psychological distress and suicide attempts, even after controlling for other adverse childhood experiences. PMC+1

• An economic and literature review estimated SOGICE’s humanistic and monetary burden in the U.S. at billions of dollars annually (the study estimated about $9.2 billion/year when tallying adverse outcomes and costs). JAMA Network+1

In pop culture: Boy Erased and the reality

The issue of conversion therapy reached a wider audience through Garrard Conley’s 2016 memoir Boy Erased, later adapted into a 2018 film. Conley recounts being sent to a religious conversion program called Love in Action in Arkansas as a teenager. His story exposes the psychological manipulation, the rigid rules, and the long-term harm of programs that promised to “heal” him but instead left deep scars.

In interviews, Conley has explained that writing the book was part of reclaiming his story:

• “I was told that who I was disgusting… the only way out was to be brainwashed into being someone else.”

The cultural reach of Boy Erased has helped many who never experienced conversion therapy understands its brutality. Importantly, it’s not just a story — it’s representative of thousands of real people who endured similar “treatments,” from small-town churches to organized ministries across the U.S.

Closing

Conversion therapy is not a neutral “treatment.” It is an ideology disguised as care — an attempt to erase identity — and it leaves measurable harm in its wake. The data, the professional consensus, and the survivors’ voices all point to the same simple moral fact: dignity and safety should never be conditional on whether you are who you are. Pride Press readers can carry that message into their families, schools, and churches: choose affirmation, not erasure.

Sources

1. Professional & Research Sources

• APA Dictionary & APA Policy on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Provides definitions, classifications, and official positions on SOGICE/conversion therapy. (apa.org)

• The Trevor Project — National Surveys & Conversion-Therapy Reports (2021–2024) Data on prevalence, demographics, and mental health outcomes of LGBTQ+ youth subjected to conversion practices. (thetrevorproject.org)

• Forsythe A., JAMA Pediatrics (2022) — “Humanistic and economic burden of conversion therapy/SOGICE ”Systematic review and economic evaluation estimating the societal and individual costs of conversion therapy. (jamanetwork.com)

• Blosnich JR et al., American Journal of Public Health (2020) — Sexual orientation change efforts and suicide morbidity Peer-reviewed study linking exposure to conversion therapy with increased psychological distress and suicidality. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

• Movement Advancement Project — Equality Maps & 2025 Conversion Therapy Report Provides legal overview of conversion therapy bans and protections for minors across U.S. states. (lgbtmap.org)

2. Survivor Stories & Journalism

• Survivor Interviews: The Guardian (various profiles) First-hand accounts from people who experienced conversion therapy. (theguardian.com)

• Daniel Franzese Interviews Actor and survivor reflecting on personal experiences with conversion therapy. (them.us)

• Garrard Conley — Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family Memoir detailing Conley’s experience at the Love in Action program, providing a cultural and personal lens. (garrardconley.com)

• Boy Erased (2018 Film) Film adaptation of Conley’s memoir, starring Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, and Russell Crowe. (imdb.com)

• Interviews with Conley & Related Journalism The Guardian, Michigan Quarterly Review, and Love To All Project provide in-depth reflections on Conley’s story and broader conversion therapy impact. (theguardian.com, sites.lsa.umich.edu, lovetoallproject.com)