In violation of the 1985 International Human Rights Convention, Geneva Convention provisions, the 1994 federal Anti-Torture statute, and of common human decency, Virginia still allows the torture of LGBTQ+ youth. While some would mask such torture with the false moniker "conversion therapy," we know that it subjects people to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual agony. All to try and fundamentally change how a person identifies, who they love, or even who they are.

Even if we were to set aside the countless studies that have been done on the long-term affects of trauma caused by this torture, there is no evidence that "conversion therapy" helps anyone. It certainly doesn't help the person being subjected to it, and it provides no public good.

This form of torture needs to be abolished at once, regardless of if laws are passed by the General Assembly.