Stuff You Should Know Selects: How Conversion Therapy Doesn't Work
11 snips
Nov 8, 2025 Delve into the dark world of conversion therapy, a misguided attempt to change sexual orientation. The hosts unpack its historical origins, from 19th-century practices to infamous figures like Joseph Nicolosi. They reveal how the APA's 1973 decision reshaped this narrative. Survivor stories expose the severe harms inflicted, while scientific consensus debunks effectiveness. Listen for legal measures against this practice and how cultural representations keep the conversation alive. It's both eye-opening and crucial for understanding LGBTQ+ rights.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Core Premise Is Scientifically Unsupported
- Conversion therapy is based on the idea that people are born heterosexual and can be steered back from homosexuality by correcting childhood dynamics.
- Josh Clark and Charles Bryant note this premise lacks scientific support and is rooted in cultural and religious motivations.
Church Camp Stomp, Not Dance
- Charles Bryant recounts a church camp rule forbidding alternating foot stomps because it resembled dancing.
- He uses this to illustrate how conservative religious practices enforce strict behavior norms.
Long, Troubled Medical History
- Early conversion methods stretched back to the 19th century and included hypnosis, ECT, lobotomies, and testicular interventions.
- Hosts highlight these as historically accepted but now discredited medical approaches used to force sexual change.
