Conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is banned in 24 countries.
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
Timeline of conversion therapy
Recent & Upcoming Changes
Upcoming Changes
2024
2023
- NorwayBannedDecember 12
- England, United KingdomNot bannedNovember 7
- Wales, United KingdomNot bannedNovember 7
- Manchester, United KingdomNot bannedNovember 7
- BelgiumBannedOctober 28
- Sinaloa, MexicoBannedJuly 27
- Querétaro, MexicoBannedJune 29
- IcelandBannedJune 9
- CyprusBannedMay 25
2022
- SpainBannedDecember 22
- Nuevo León, MexicoBannedDecember 21
- Sonora, MexicoBannedDecember 6
- ParaguayBannedNovember 7
- Pennsylvania, United StatesBannedAugust 16
- VietnamBannedAugust 3
- Hidalgo, MexicoBannedJune 7
- Puebla, MexicoBannedJune 2
- Baja California, MexicoBannedMay 26
- GreeceBannedMay 11
- Jalisco, MexicoBannedApril 6
- New ZealandBannedFebruary 19
- IsraelBannedFebruary 14
- RéunionBannedJanuary 26
- FranceBannedJanuary 26
- French Southern Territories, FranceBannedJanuary 25
- French GuianaBannedJanuary 25
- New CaledoniaBannedJanuary 25
- French PolynesiaBannedJanuary 25
- GuadeloupeBannedJanuary 25
- MartiniqueBannedJanuary 25
- Saint Pierre and MiquelonBannedJanuary 25
- CanadaBannedJanuary 7
- Ardennes, FranceBannedJanuary 1
- Catalunya, SpainBannedJanuary 1
- Paris, FranceBannedJanuary 1
Conversion therapy by Country
Banned
Conversion therapy is banned in 24 regions.
Sexual orientation only
Conversion therapy is sexual orientation only in 1 regions.
- Oceania (1)
- Fiji 2010
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in 161 regions.
- Asia (37)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan 1991
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon 2013
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal 2015
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine 2014
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- Europe (38)
- Albania 2020
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia 2002
- Finland
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia 2017
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania 2015
- Luxembourg 2017
- Moldova 2014
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia 2018
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
- North America (18)
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- Cuba 2013
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras 2016
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Africa (54)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana 2016
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius 2017
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Data on conversion therapy is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 12 regions.
- Oceania (1)
- Australia
- South America (1)
- Peru
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica
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