Overview
Conversion “therapy” is a dangerous and discredited practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices have gone by many names and misleading euphemisms over many years, including “ex-gay therapy,” “reparative therapy,” and, more recently, “reintegrative therapy” or “exploratory therapy.” No matter the name, such practices share the fundamental premise that being LGBTQ is wrong, undesirable, and abnormal.
This report by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and The Trevor Project details the shifting landscape of efforts to protect LGBTQ young people against this abuse. With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a case in late 2025 (Chiles v. Salazar) challenging the legality of these protections, this timely analysis details the history of these laws, the present landscape, and the importance of continuing to protect LGBTQ youth.
Note: One statistic in this report was updated in August 2025 to reflect updated research on the number of times Republican lawmakers have supported legislation protecting youth from conversion ‘therapy’ (see page 7).
