Ex-gay ministries do more harm than good by claiming that gay men, lesbians and bisexuals — youth in particular — can become heterosexual through “conversion therapy.”

Though ex-gay ministries operate under the guise of mental health treatment, they claim that their programs are faith-based and should therefore be free from mandatory oversight and regulation.

• Of 202 people who underwent conversion therapy, only eight reported “changing” to heterosexuality without still experiencing any “slips” in thought or behavior.
• Those who have attended ex-gay programs often describe themselves as depressed and suicidal.

Parents must stop believing ex-gay and evangelical leaders who insist that their children will live depressed, violent, short and drug-filled lives if they are lesbian, gay or bisexual.