A report on Exodus Latinoamérica highlights how harmful conversion therapy claims can circulate online and reach LGBTQ+ people and their families. Major medical and mental health organisations reject these practices, while bans are spreading across several countries. Here’s what the reporting says, why online content matters, and how to assess claims with care.

Essential Takeaways

  • The practice is discredited: Major medical and mental health organisations reject efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender expression.
  • The risks are serious: The American Psychiatric Association says these efforts can be harmful and potentially deadly.
  • Online reach is a concern: Reports have identified gaps in how platforms address conversion therapy content and providers.
  • Laws vary by location: As of August 2024, 16 countries had enacted bans, while 23 US states and Washington, DC, had restrictions.

Harmful claims can travel far online

The concern is not only what conversion therapy proponents claim, but how easily people seeking information can encounter those claims online. GLAAD identifies Exodus Latinoamérica as a provider and proponent of the practice, which falsely presents sexual orientation or gender identity as something that can be changed. ([2], [3])

That can matter especially to LGBTQ+ people and families looking for support. The American Psychiatric Association says efforts to change sexual orientation or gender expression can cause harm and may be potentially deadly, a stark warning against treating such claims as a harmless alternative. ([6])

Major health organisations reject conversion therapy

The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association are among the major professional organisations that have condemned conversion therapy. The APA also explains its position on sexual orientation, providing a useful reference for people trying to distinguish established psychological understanding from claims that promise to change who someone is. ([2], [7])

GLAAD notes that some proponents are licensed mental health professionals, while others are connected with religious organisations and may describe their work as pastoral care. A professional title or a softer label, then, isn't by itself evidence that a practice is safe or supported by medical consensus. ([2], [6])

Platform policies matter, too

The Global Project Against Hate & Extremism's 2024 report, Conversion Therapy Online: The Ecosystem in 2023, found that search engines and platforms were not doing enough to limit harmful conversion therapy content and providers. That makes moderation a practical issue, not just a debate about what appears on a screen. ([4])

GLAAD is urging social media, technology and AI companies to strengthen their policies and enforcement. For users, a sensible first step is to check who is behind a post, look for guidance from established medical organisations, and be cautious of content promising to change someone's identity or orientation. ([2], [4], [6], [7])

Laws are changing, but protection varies

As of August 2024, 16 countries had enacted bans on conversion therapy, including Canada, France, Germany, Malta, Ecuador, Brazil, Taiwan and New Zealand. In the United States, 23 states and Washington, DC, had restrictions in place, according to the figures cited by GLAAD and the ILGA World report. ([2], [5])

Those figures show a growing international response, but the legal picture isn't uniform. Families and LGBTQ+ people seeking help should check current rules in their own location and turn to qualified, evidence-based support rather than relying on online promises. ([2], [5], [7])

A reassuring claim isn't necessarily a safe one

GLAAD's reporting and the broader research point to a difficult online reality: harmful material can be presented as professional care, religious guidance or straightforward advice. Reading beyond the headline and checking claims against reputable medical sources can help people make more informed choices. ([2], [3], [4], [6])

For families, the most helpful support starts with listening rather than trying to change someone. That may sound simple, but it can make a real difference when a person is facing pressure from competing voices online and offline. ([6], [7])

Seek support that respects LGBTQ+ people and is grounded in credible, evidence-based care.

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