Youth's Lives Every Day
15% of LGBTQ youth in Michigan reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy in the past year
May 18, 2023 — The Trevor Project — the leading suicide prevention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people — voiced its support for a package of bills introduced in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature would prohibit licensed medical professionals from subjecting LGBTQ youth to the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion “therapy.”
“It is deeply inspiring to see Michigan lawmakers unite to spark important progress on LGBTQ protections and cut through the noise of today’s heated national political climate. So-called conversion ‘therapy’ — which has been denounced by every leading professional medical and mental health association and has been consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes and increased suicide risk — has no place in our society,” said Gwen Stembridge (she/her), Advocacy Campaign Manager for The Trevor Project. “We stand proudly alongside our partners at Equality Michigan, Human Rights Campaign, and the bill co-sponsors who shepherded forward this moment and urge the rest of the state legislature for their support to help protect all LGBTQ Michiganders from the harms of this dangerous practice.”
Relevant Research:
- According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by State, 45% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 52% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Additionally, 15% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy.
- Further, a peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project published in the American Journal of Public Health found that LGBTQ youth 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.
- 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 the U.S. an estimated $9.23 billion, 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 crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting 678678.