"Conversion therapy is based on the assumption that we, as LGBTQ+ people, should be so ashamed of ourselves that we want to change. The practice is dependent on a larger culture of shame in order to drive people to it, and its existence is a justification for shaming LGBTQ+ people."
"What does it mean to live in a society where a significant part of the population believes that LGBTQ+ people can and should change who they are? What will it mean for the Supreme Court to give its approval to a practice that actual researchers in the field of psychology have rejected?"
"Breaking free of that shame is a lifelong struggle, but it's a series of successes and growth. Maybe there was a moment where you finally saw an LGBTQ+ person like yourself on TV and realized you weren't the only one. Maybe you found love and understood the beauty of your sexuality."
LGBTQ+ Nation is soliciting personal stories from LGBTQ+ individuals about moments when they broke free from shame and self-hatred. The publication's March 2026 issue focuses on conversion therapy as a cultural practice, examining what it means to live in a society where significant populations believe LGBTQ+ people should change their identities. Conversion therapy operates on shame and perpetuates cultural stigma against LGBTQ+ people. The Supreme Court case Chiles v. Salazar will determine whether state conversion therapy bans violate free speech rights, despite psychological researchers rejecting the practice. LGBTQ+ Nation invites readers to share transformative moments—whether discovering representation, experiencing love, or receiving correct pronoun usage—that contributed to their journey toward self-acceptance.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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