Conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is banned in 25 countries and territories.
- Banned
- Not banned
- Unknown, N/A, or ambiguous
Recent Changes
- May 11 2022Became Banned in Greece
- Feb 19 2022Became Banned in New Zealand
- Jan 27 2022Became Banned in Idaho
- Jan 25 2022Became Banned in France
- Jan 25 2022Became Banned in French Polynesia
- Jan 25 2022Became Banned in New Caledonia
- Jan 25 2022Became Banned in French Southern Territories
- Jan 25 2022Became Banned in French Guiana
Conversion therapy
"Conversion therapy" or "reparative therapy" is a pseudoscientific practice of attempting to "convert" or "repair" an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The concept is found on the assumption that sexual orientation can be changed and that anything other than homosexual and cisgender is "abnormal."
Conversion therapy is often conducted by religious groups with the use prayer and other religious efforts and teachings.
While some individuals may to undergo this therapy volunteer, many children are forced into it by their parents.
Many medical and psychologist groups have officially condemned this type of harmful "therapy." Some studies have shown that the process can sometimes lead to depression, self-harm, and even suicide.
The practice of attempting to "cure" homosexuality dates back at least to 1888 when a German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing used hypnotic suggestion therapy to turn a gay man straight.
In the past few decades, countries, provinces, and states have begun outlawing conversion therapy.
Summary
Progress over time
Recent changes
- GreeceBannedMay 11, 2022
- New ZealandBannedFeb 19, 2022
- Idaho, United StatesBannedJan 27, 2022
- FranceBannedJan 25, 2022
- French PolynesiaBannedJan 25, 2022
- New CaledoniaBannedJan 25, 2022
- French Southern Territories, FranceBannedJan 25, 2022
- French GuianaBannedJan 25, 2022
- CanadaBannedJan 7, 2022
- Prince Edward Island, CanadaBannedDec 7, 2021
Conversion therapy by country
(and dependent territories)Banned
Conversion therapy is banned in 25 regions.
- North America (1)
- Canada 2022
- Africa (1)
- Mauritius 2017
- Oceania (6)
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Fiji 2015
- French Polynesia 2022
- New Caledonia 2022
- New Zealand 2022
- Samoa 2007
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in 96 regions.
- Asia (29)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan 2017
- Lebanon 2013
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Nepal 2015
- Pakistan
- Palestine 2014
- Philippines
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Europe (29)
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Croatia 2017
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic 2017
- Estonia 2017
- Finland
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia 2017
- Lithuania 2015
- Luxembourg 2017
- Moldova 2014
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia 2014
- Poland 2015
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia 2018
- Slovenia 2017
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom 2017
- Vatican City
- North America (13)
- Bahamas
- British Virgin Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba 2013
- Dominican Republic
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras 2016
- Martinique
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Africa (16)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Botswana 2016
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Cape Verde
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Namibia
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Tunisia
- Zimbabwe
- Oceania (1)
- Solomon Islands
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Data on conversion therapy is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 111 regions.
- Asia (13)
- Brunei
- Hong Kong
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- North Korea
- Oman
- Qatar
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Europe (16)
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Faroe Islands
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Spain
- Sweden
- Turkey
- North America (22)
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sint Maarten
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States
- Africa (42)
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Oceania (17)
- Australia
- Christmas Island
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Pitcairn Islands
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica
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