Youth's Lives Every Day
LGBTQ+ young people who were subjected to conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report attempting suicide in the past year
September 18, 2024 – The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ+) young people, celebrated the Kentucky governor’s signing of an executive order to protect LGBTQ+ young people from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy across the Commonwealth.
“As a proud queer person who grew up in Kentucky, I am thrilled to see the governor take action to protect LGBTQ+ young people from conversion therapy — an abusive practice that has harmed too many of us, for too long across the Commonwealth,” said Tanner Mobley (he/him/his pronouns), Manager of State Advocacy and Conversion Therapy Campaigns at The Trevor Project. “I have been working in coalition with others in Kentucky to end this dangerous and discredited practice in Kentucky for the past 8 years, and seeing this executive order signed into law is so meaningful. While awful in its own right, conversion therapy is also a strong risk factor for suicide; research shows that LGBTQ+ youth who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide in the past year. Thank you to the governor for fighting to end conversion therapy, and showing us that LGBTQ+ young people are welcome in this state, exactly as they are.”
Conversion therapy, also called “reparative therapy,” refers to any of several dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite being denounced by every major medical and mental health association in the United States, conversion therapy is administered in many communities nationwide. In Kentucky, 21% of LGBTQ young people reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy.
The Trevor Project’s research has consistently found that conversion therapy is associated with higher odds of considering or attempting suicide. A peer-reviewed study, published in The American Journal of Public Health, found that LGBTQ+ young people who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year.
“As we continue to witness a historic wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced in states across the U.S., this executive order serves as a powerful reminder that LGBTQ+ youth have allies and leaders who support them in every corner of our country,” said Jaymes Black (they/she/he pronouns), Chief Executive Officer at The Trevor Project. “We are grateful to see this monumental step forward for protecting the health and safety of Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ young people, and for the years of tireless advocacy from The Fairness Campaign and our partners and advocates on the ground in Kentucky. Together, we will continue to build the safe, inclusive world that LGBTQ+ young people deserve.”
A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics found the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ youth, and its associated harms – such as substance abuse and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts – cost an estimated $9.23 billion in the United States annually.
For journalists looking to learn more about how to cover the issue of conversion therapy, here is a guide on best practices.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
