The American Medical Association (AMA) has revealed it will be helping fight the discredited practice of gay "conversion" therapy in the US.

 

This week, the AMA’s House of Delegates approved plans to to “ban so-called reparative or conversion therapy for sexual orientation or gender identity.” The group is calling for a ban on both the state and the federal level.

 

Currently, 32 states allow conversion therapy for minors. All states allow the same practice for adults.

 

“It is clear to the AMA that the conversion therapy needs to end in the United States given the risk of deliberate harm to LGBTQ people," AMA Board Member William E. Kobler, M.D explained. “Conversion therapy has no foundation as scientifically valid medical care and lacks credible evidence to support its efficacy or safety.”

 

“Historically, medical professionals have contributed to the stigmatization of LGBTQ individuals, so the AMA's active involvement in LGBTQ health advocacy is incredibly important,” Dr. Alexis Chavez, medical director for the nonprofit Trevor Project, said in a statement. “The AMA's support for ending conversion therapy furthers the work that The Trevor Project is doing across the country with our 50 Bills 50 States campaign to protect LGBTQ youth from this dangerous and discredited practice.”

 

“These new policies from the American Medical Association reaffirm the urgent need to protect LGBTQ youth from this dangerous practice," added Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president, Alphonso David. “This policy will also be a critical resource for state legislators across the country as they work toward crafting legislation combating ‘conversion therapy.’

 

The AMA also agreed on other LGBT-inclusive policies. This included recognizing the correct name and gender identity of trans patients, and pushing for better education on health issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity for medical professionals.

 

For too many people, these changes cannot happen soon enough.