American Medical Association Affirms Public Support of Conversion Therapy Bans

The American Medical Association (AMA) has reaffirmed its opposition to “ex-gay” conversion therapy by formally supporting state and federal bans on conversion therapy.

According to a press release, the AMA’s policy-making body voted in favor of adopting of new official policy of developing model state legislation and publicly supporting conversation therapy bans. The AMA has long revered conversion therapy as ineffective and having no scientific basis.

“It is clear to the AMA that 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. “Conversion therapy has no foundation as scientifically valid medical care and lacks credible evidence to support its efficacy or safety.”

Currently, only 18 states and the District of Columbia have banned conversion therapy on minors. No states have banned ex-gay therapy for adults.

HRC President Alphonso David praised the move in a statement.

“No child should have to endure this painful and life-threatening practice, and we are glad to see the AMA taking seriously the need to protect LGBTQ youth,” David said. “The voices of medical professionals have long been central to the growing support for LGBTQ-inclusive laws, policies, and communities—these AMA policies continue that trend.”

This new policy was one of several pro-equality decisions the board voted on. The AMA also voted to make electronic health records more inclusive of transgender patients by supporting the voluntary inclusion of a transgender patient’s preferred name, ensure medical training on health issues relation to the LGBTQ community, and to advance racial pay equity in medicine.