MEDIA CONTACT:
Dana Juniel, Movement Advancement Project
July 31, 2025
Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and The Trevor Project released a new report that spotlights the harms of conversion “therapy” and 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 this fall (Chiles v. Salazar) challenging the legality of these protections, this report offers a timely analysis into the history of these laws, the present landscape, and the importance of continuing to protect LGBTQ youth. The Prevalence of Conversion “Therapy” — And its Growing Focus on Transgender Youth
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. For decades, an unregulated industry masquerading as health care has used these tactics against LGBTQ people and their families—and they continue to do so today. Because these practices are often conducted in relative secret or under the guise of different names, they are difficult to track, and estimates may vary as a result. This report includes national estimates from recent research and national surveys, which show how conversion “therapy” practices remain widespread today. MAP’s analysis also importantly explains how these harmful practices target transgender people’s gender identity, including transgender youth. Protecting LGBTQ Youth from These Harmful Practices
Historically, and continuing today, there has been widespread public support for protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion “therapy,” including across the political spectrum. For example: - Both a 2025 Data for Progress poll and a 2019 Reuters-Ipsos poll found 56% of U.S. adults think conversion “therapy” should be illegal to use on LGBTQ minors.
- In the 23 states that have passed legislation protecting minors from conversion “therapy,” every bill has passed with Republican support.
- As of July 2025, state Republican lawmakers had sponsored or voted in favor of legislation protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion “therapy” at least 682 times.
- One-third of existing state protections against conversion “therapy” were enacted by Republican governors.
Today, 23 states and the District of Columbia have laws protecting minors from these practices, while another four states and Puerto Rico restrict these practices in other ways.
Laws protecting LGBTQ children from conversion “therapy” have helped raise awareness and ensure that state-licensed therapists and medical providers are providing competent, evidence-based care and are not causing harm to those entrusted to their care. A Larger and Coordinated Attack on LGBTQ People—Especially Youth
Since 2020, there has been a significant and dramatic escalation in political attacks on the LGBTQ community, with most of these attacks especially targeting LGBTQ youth and transgender people. This has caused startling shifts in the policy landscape, including new and escalating efforts to protect—and in some cases even promote—conversion “therapy.” For example, in April 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an anonymously authored report attacking evidence-based, medically necessary care for transgender youth, while repeatedly mentioning conversion “therapy” using the deceptive euphemism “exploratory therapy”. It did so both to promote subjecting transgender young people to these dangerous practices, and to further attack families’ ability to get a transgender child the medical care they need.
This report details lawsuits challenging conversion “therapy” laws, as well as recent legislation that aims to push these harmful practices or challenge existing protections at both the state and local level. Recommendations and Resources
The scientific research and personal testimonies of LGBTQ people who have been subjected to conversion “therapy” are clear: this is a dangerous and discredited practice—one that the government can and should restrict to protect its citizens. - States and municipalities should protect minors from harmful conversion “therapy” practices.
- States and municipalities should fight against efforts to protect or promote conversion “therapy,” including attempted repeals of existing protections.
- LGBTQ youth in crisis can contact The Trevor Project by calling 1-866-488-7386; texting “START” to 678-678; or starting a chat at www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
All youth deserve love, support, and acceptance. While the law cannot ensure that all youth have these vital needs met, it can protect them from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion “therapy”—and promote an environment in which every young person knows they are safe, supported, and exactly who they were meant to be.
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About MAP
The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) provides rigorous research, insight, and analysis that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that LGBTQ people and their families can live their lives with dignity, safety, and respect by focusing on three key areas: policy and issue analysis, movement capacity, and effective messaging. MAP’s work also covers a broad range of social justice issues that intersect with the LGBTQ movement, including racial justice, economic justice, and healthcare access. www.mapresearch.org
