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As “Boy Erased” Calls Attention to “Conversion Therapy,” Leading Mental Health Professional Associations Continue to Urge Action to Protect New York’s Youth

(NEW YORK, NY) – On Friday, November 2, 2018, the film “Boy Erased” premiered in select theaters with a nationwide release set for Friday, November 16, 2018. Written and directed by Joel Edgerton, and based on Garrard Conley’s memoir of the same name, the movie tells Conley’s story through Jared Eamons, the son of Baptist parents who is forced to undergo so-called “gay conversion therapy.”  The all-star cast includes Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons and Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as his parents.

So-called “conversion therapy”, also known as “reparative therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE)” is “a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.” (Human Rights Campaign). The National Association of Social Workers released a position statement in May 2015 on sexual orientation and change efforts (SOCE). The statement declares “SOCE can negatively affect one’s mental health and […] the practice of SOCE violates the very tenets of the social work profession as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics including maintaining competence, fighting discrimination, and avoiding misrepresentation.” (NASW, 2015).

Leading medical and mental health professional organizations have repudiated so-called “conversion therapy,” including the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which states, “…[The APA] does not believe that same-sex orientation should or needs to be changed, and efforts to do so represent a significant risk of harm by subjecting individuals to forms of treatment which have not been scientifically validated and by undermining self-esteem when sexual orientation fails to change. No credible evidence exists that any mental health intervention can reliably and safely change sexual orientation; nor, from a mental health perspective does sexual orientation need to be changed.”

Similarly, a report by the American Psychological Association has found that individuals who have undergone conversion therapy can suffer from “depression, helplessness, hopelessness, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, decreased self-esteem, increased self-hatred, feelings of anger, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in emotional intimacy, a feeling of being dehumanized, and a loss of faith.”

Recognizing the danger and potential detrimental and long-term effects, 14 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to prohibit so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. The measures come at a crucial time as The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at UCLA School of Law estimates nearly 700,000 individuals have endured so-called “conversion therapy,” including 350,000 as adolescents, with another 77,000 at risk in states that have not prohibited or restricted the practice.

“I am one of the 700,000 people in the U.S. who has been through conversion therapy,” said Mathew Shurka, co-founder and senior strategist of BornPerfect, a nationwide campaign to end conversion therapy. “With the release of movies such as Boy Erased, I could not think of a more important time than now for this issue to be addressed nationwide. Since overcoming my time in conversion therapy, I have co-founded the BornPerfect Campaign, a team of impact lawyers and conversion therapy survivors supporting lawmakers and survivors to help end conversion therapy. So far, 14 states have passed laws protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy, and counting. Myself and all of BornPerfect are proud to be partnering with these mental health professions to prohibit so-called conversion therapy in New York.”

In New York State, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo took executive action in 2016 prohibiting insurers, health plans, and Medicaid from covering and reimbursing so-called “conversion therapy,” and barred it for minors in mental health facilities operated or funded by the State. The New York City (NASW-NYC) and New York State (NASW-NYS) Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers, the New York State Psychiatric Association, the New York State Psychological Association, and the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work applauded the Governor’s action as an important first step, while urging passage of legislation that would prohibit licensed mental health professionals from engaging in efforts to change a minor’s sexual orientation and defining such activity as professional misconduct, subjecting the licensed professional to disciplinary action. Absent the enactment of such legislation, several counties and localities around the state have enacted local laws to protect youth, including Albany County, the City of Albany, the City of Rochester, New York City, Ulster County, and most recently, Westchester County.

The above associations continue to make the protection of youth central to their legislative programs, issuing a joint statement, “While we applaud the executive actions taken heretofore in New York, the next step to protect LGBTQ youth is through the enactment of legislation that bars licensed mental health professionals from offering or providing “conversion therapy” and defining it as professional misconduct. The enactment of such a law, when combined with the Governor’s previous actions, will result in New York having the most comprehensive protections of any state.”

We hope films such as “Boy Erased” serve to educate both the public and policy makers about this damaging practice and, as a result, build a crescendo of voices to stand with the licensed mental health professions calling for an end to it once and for all for minors.

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NASW-NYS and NASW-NYC Condemn Mass Shooting at Tree of Life Congregation and Recent Hate-Fueled Attacks

The National Association of Social Workers – New York State (NASW-NYS) and New York City (NASW-NYC) Chapters strongly condemn the string of recent hate-fueled attacks in the United States including the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh; the attempted attacks on George Soros, former President Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Representative Maxine Waters, Senator Kamala Harris, and other prominent political figures; and the attempted assault on a predominantly African-American church that ended in the deaths of two people in a grocery store in Louisville. We, like so many others, are heartbroken and disturbed by these recent senseless acts of violence and offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families and communities affected by these events.

Antisemitism, hate, and xenophobia should have no place in the United States, and yet far too often we hear and read headlines about mass shootings, discrimination, and assault. These acts of violence and domestic terrorism do not happen overnight, and they do not occur in isolation. Our nation needs to seriously address the longstanding undercurrent of racism and bigotry that flows far and wide. While some progress has been made, we continue to see rhetoric of antagonism and hate toward groups of people manifest itself on bumper stickers, on social media, and media sources that embolden people to call authorities on innocent people of color, send dangerous and lethal bombs to people of differing political beliefs, and kill 11 people who were joined in community to celebrate the life of a little child.

These expressions are the antithesis of who we are as a people and counter to core principles of our social work profession, which is driven by respect and inclusion. The United States’ history as a nation of immigrants is its unique strength. Diversity is the backbone of our country, and it is something that should be celebrated – not demonized. As social workers, we recognize the strengths that exist in all cultures and work to prevent and eliminate any oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, political belief, religion, immigration status, and/or mental or physical ability. Our nation is advanced and strong because our people are unique and strong as well.

This public hatred of all groups must stop, and we must find ways to unite as one nation where diverse ideas, groups, and perspectives are respected. We cannot tolerate, facilitate, nor collaborate with any form of discrimination, and we must speak out loudly against any public expressions of hatred or prejudice no matter who the target is. We must also increase our support of people who experience marginalization of any kind, so that they do not use their anger and aggression to destroy the principles that allow people to speak and act freely in our country. Our profession must focus to mobilize legislators, stakeholders, and the community to advocate for laws and stronger regulations that would serve as deterrents to acts of violence and terrorism, and to reduce gun-related deaths and injuries through honest dialogue and sensible gun reform that keeps dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands.

All of us share the responsibility to make our country a safe and inclusive place to work, learn, play, and live. We have seen a significant increase of deliberate acts of discrimination and hate toward specific population groups, as well as incidents of school bullying and violence. NASW-NYS and NASW-NYC will continue to advocate passage of a bill in New York that would require every school district to provide their students with a school social worker to assist with the students’ mental health and help ameliorate the multilayered challenges that young people may face – especially those living in communities in distress. Increasing the number of social workers available in our communities, including our schools, is a critical component of early intervention to prevent problems later in life, minimize the risk of gun-related deaths, and address trauma when it occurs in our communities.

At such a painful and traumatizing time, our profession must remain unified and committed to the prevention of violence. These acts of hatred serve to split our nation apart and must not become the new normal. Together, we can stand strong, work toward healing, and advocate for greater change that benefits individuals of all backgrounds. NASW-NYS and NASW-NYC stand ready to offer support in any way we can.

NASW-NYS strongly encourages members to vote in all elections – local, state, national, association, etc. – as it is a chance to have your voice heard and be the change you want to see. It is easy to do and is one of the greatest privileges of this country – a chance to influence leadership and, in turn, social, health, and public policy. For social workers, it may be the most important way we can fulfill our obligation to create broader social change.

WHO CAN VOTE?

To register to vote in New York State, you need to be:

• a U.S. citizen;
• 18 years old by December 31st;
• and a resident of New York State, and the county, city or village in which you want to vote, for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Additionally, you cannot: be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction; have been adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court; or claim the right to vote elsewhere.

HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?

New York General Election: November 6, 2018

Voter Registration Deadline:
Postmarked by Friday, October 12.
Post received by Wednesday, October 17.
In-Person Request by Friday, October 12.

You can register in person at your county board of elections, or at any other voter registration center in NYS. You can also submit your application (click to download) to the Department of Motor Vehicles, in person or via their website (dmv.gov.ny).

In order to vote in the 2018 General Election, mailed registration applications must be postmarked no later than October 12, 2018, and received by a board of elections by October 17, 2018. If you are registering to vote in person, to be eligible for the 2018 General Election, you must do so by October 12, 2018.

If you need to vote with an absentee ballot in the 2018 General Election, your ballot must be postmarked by November 5, 2018, and received by the board of elections by November 19, 2018.

Additional tips for maneuvering through the system:

• If you need to change your address or name, your county board of elections must receive the information at least 20 days prior to the election (October 17, 2018) to guarantee that it is processed in time.
• If you want to change your party, prior to the 2018 General Election, your change of enrollment form must be received by a board of elections by October 12, 2018.
• Are you registered? Check your registration status by using this New York State voter registration search tool (https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/votersearch.aspx).

For more information, please call 1-800-FOR-VOTE (to request a voter application) or visit the New York State Voter Registration website (elections.ny.gov)

HELP OTHERS VOTE

Social workers can play an important role in encouraging clients and other vulnerable members of the community to vote and engage in advocacy around issues that impact their lives. Social workers can also assist clients overcome barriers to voting (e.g. lack of information on candidates and the voting process, mobility limitations, lack of appropriate identification, and more) by providing them with the appropriate tools and resources and guiding them through the registration and voting process.

THE NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK VOTER MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN

In addition to our own voter participation activities, NASW is collaborating with the voter participation efforts of the Voting is Social Work coalition to raise awareness of the importance of voting to social work practice and social policy, provide information about voter mobilization skills, and ensure all the people served by social workers have voting access.

We invite our members to visit www.votingissocialwork.org where you will find webinars, fact sheets, tools, and resources for voter registration and participation.

Remember, every vote matters — including yours.