Still from VICE's special report on "conversion" therapy.
Annons
Annons
Yes, we now live in a country with national marriage equality—yet we also live in a country where one of our two major political parties is currently advancing an agenda to legalize anti-LGBTQ discrimination based on ambiguous notions of "religious freedom." Referring to the Obama administration's inclusion of transgender rights in its interpretation of Title IX, the 2016 Republican Platform, using reactionary language, has declared that Democrats wish to "undermine religion and drive it from the public square." The GOP's solution? The First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow "healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and organizations" to turn away customers based on "the rights of [their] conscience" and potentially deprive LGBTQ individuals of their services, a discriminatory practice already legal in states like Arkansas and Tennessee.Perhaps most troubling is language included surrounding therapeutic practices for minors. Conservative Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, a longtime proponent of conversion therapy, fought hard for the inclusion of the right of parents to "determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their children" in this year's platform. In addition, Trump's running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, has advocated for "institutions which provide support for those seeking to change their sexual behavior."'Freedom' and 'safety,' for the Republican Party, means freedom and safety for those who are a product of the "traditional marriage and family," and not for those marginalized Americans who need it most.
Annons
Annons