Safe and Supported Children

All children should receive care that first, does no harm. We are advocating for passage of legislation that prohibits mental health professionals licensed in Georgia from providing conversion therapy to minors.

Conversion therapy has no scientific basis, contradicts the medical community’s understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity, and puts young people at risk of serious harm, including severe depression, anxiety, and substance misuse, contributing to an elevated risk of suicide.

All major medical organizations oppose conversion therapy

Conversion therapy consists of a range of dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. There is a consensus among medical professionals that these practices have no scientific basis, contradict the understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity, and put young people at risk of serious harm, including severe depression, substance misuse, and suicide.

All major medical organizations oppose the practice of conversion therapy, including:

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

• American Counseling Association

• American Medical Association

• American Psychiatric Association

• American Psychological Association

• American School Counselor Association

• Endocrine Society

• National Association of Social Workers

The proposed legislation does just one thing: it requires mental health professionals licensed in Georgia who wish to engage in “practices . . . that seek to change a [minor’s] sexual orientation” either to wait until the client turns 18 or be subject to professional discipline.