Conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is banned in 24 countries.
- Banned
- Not banned
- Varies by region or ambiguous
- Unknown or N/A
Recent Changes
- Jul 27 2023Became Banned in Sinaloa
- Jul 22 2023Became Banned in Belgium
- Jun 29 2023Became Banned in Querétaro
- Jun 9 2023Became Banned in Iceland
- May 25 2023Became Banned in Cyprus
- May 2 2023Became Not banned in Switzerland
- Dec 22 2022Became Banned in Spain
- Dec 21 2022Became Banned in Nuevo León
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
Conversion therapy by Country
Banned
Conversion therapy is banned in 24 regions.
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in 136 regions.
- Asia (37)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan 1991
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon 2013
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Myanmar
- Nepal 2015
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine 2014
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- Europe (36)
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- Croatia 2017
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia 2017
- Finland
- Georgia
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia 2017
- Lithuania 2015
- Luxembourg 2017
- Moldova 2014
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia 2014
- Norway
- Portugal 2019
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia 2018
- Sweden
- Switzerland 2023
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Vatican City
- North America (12)
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- Cuba 2013
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras 2016
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Africa (36)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Botswana 2016
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Data on conversion therapy is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 38 regions.
- North America (10)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States
- Africa (17)
- Benin
- Burundi
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Eswatini
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Republic of the Congo
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Zambia
- South America (1)
- Argentina
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica
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