Conversion Therapy is Wrong

Argumentative Structure:I. IntroductionII. Homosexuality: Is it a choice? III. Conversion Therapy and its Reported "Successes"V. SourcesI. IntroductionBefore I begin, I would like to thank my opponent for taking part in this debate and bearing with me my while I get readjusted to DDO. I'm excited to see how this debate turns out and hope that myself, Everyone watching, And my opponent enjoys this debate. Conversion therapy, In simplest terms, Is a procedure that aims to change one's sexuality through psychological or spiritual interventions. It's very controversial, Not only because this therapy assumes that sexuality is a choice that can be changed through this long and arduous procedure, But because of the deplorable and archaic practices it uses on its patients including but not limited to electroshock therapy, Aversion therapy, And even physical abuse (S1). As an ally and close friend of others within the LGBT community, I feel strongly invested in this subject. I hope that, Through my argument, I can convince my readers and hopefully even my opponent that homosexuality is not a choice and that conversion therapy is flawed, Not only showing little of what it deems as "success, " but also by how it damages its subjects to the point of inducing suicidal thoughts and actions. II. Homosexuality: Is it a choice? Practitioners and supporters of conversion therapy alike argue that homosexuality is like a drug or an addiction - something unnatural and dangerous. My intent in providing substantial evidence for homosexuality being normal is not to imply that my opponent and advocates of conversion therapy are homophobic, But to invoke the question that, If homosexuality is completely natural and genetically inherent to the person, How can you "convert" a gay man or woman to become straight when conversion therapy is built upon the idea that homosexuality is merely sinful choice one makes? There is overwhelming evidence that points to homosexuality being completely natural. But we don't have to delve too deeply into intricate studies and the works - though I will certainly mention several - to realize this. As BBC Earth reported in its article, "Are There any Homosexual Animals, " homosexuality is not exclusively inherent to humans. All sorts of animals from monkeys to penguins to birds can engage in homosexual behavior. And as BBC reporter Melissa Hogenboom points out, This "homosexual behavior isn't an occasional event - which we might put down to simple mistakes - but a regular thing. " These aren't conscious acts against God or unusual and perverse acts - these are simply impulses that some animals feel and are as natural as any sexual impulse a straight or homosexual person experiences (S2). There is also notable scientific evidence that strongly points to homosexuality being a genetic trait. In a 1993 study led by geneticist Dean Hamer of the National Cancer Institute, By analyzing 114 families of homosexual men, Hamer and his team of researchers found what they believe to be the "gay gene, " the region known as the Xq28 marker of the X chromosome (S3). This theory was further solidified in a more recent study conducted by Dr. Tuck Ngun and his team at the University of California. Gathering 37 pairs of twins with one being homosexual and the other heterosexual, Ngun and his team took a sample of blood from each volunteer and, Through close examination, Isolated the same Xq28 marker as what they concluded as being the "gay gene" as it was a common trait only shared among the homosexual subjects (S4). III. Conversion Therapy and its Reported "Successes"To reiterate from the definition I provided in my introduction, Conversion therapy is a procedure that aims to change one's sexuality through psychological or spiritual interventions. As simple as it may seem on paper, The practices that this supposed therapy uses on a regular basis are downright atrocious. Although conversion therapy is far less archaic as it was decades before, Its practices still remain devoid of scientific validity and put their subjects at high risk of harm, Both mentally and physically. Treatments include aversive conditioning (a procedure where the patient is exposed to a stimulus while simultaneously being subjected to some form of discomfort or pain), And a variety of behavioral, Cognitive, And psychoanalytic practices to reduce same-sex attraction. As the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) article, "Born Perfect: The Facts About Conversion Therapy Video Player, " reports, "techniques therapists have used to try to change sexual orientation and gender identity include inducing nausea, Vomiting, Or paralysis while showing the patient homoerotic images; providing electric shocks; having the individual snap an elastic band around the wrist when aroused by same-sex erotic images or thoughts; using shame to create aversion to same-sex attractions; orgasmic reconditioning; and satiation therapy. Other techniques include trying to make patients" behavior more stereotypically feminine or masculine, Teaching heterosexual dating skills, Using hypnosis to try to redirect desires and arousal, And other techniques"all based on the scientifically discredited premise that being LGBT is a defect or disorder, " (S5) Many civil rights groups have called for the illegaization of conversion therapy, And these practices are considered so inhumane, In fact, That the UN has publicly condemned conversion therapy (S6). "Success" in the eyes of the conversion therapist is managing to, Through rigorous trials and abuse, Rewire homosexuals' brains and have them associate their normal same-sex sexual impulses with the pain they endured, And have these subjects indoctrinated into the religious belief of homosexuality being a conscious decision and sinful act. "Successful" patients of the therapy likely lead to a life of celibacy and battling homosexual impulses and desires. And for all patients, "successful" or otherwise, These therapies can often lead to the onset of mental affliction and long-lasting trauma from both the physical and mental trials they suffered as the APA reports (S7). Additionally, According to a study conducted by psychologist and researcher Dr. Robert Spitzner, Of 143 "ex-gays" who underwent conversion therapy, 89% of men reported having feelings of attraction to people of the same-sex (S8). Ironically, Even Alan Chambers, Former leader of EXODUS International, The largest ex-gay organization for the last three decades, Has recently come out and retracted his views on homosexuality and conversion therapy, A procedure that he once found to be "righteous, " Chambers now resents it. As he claims, "I know that there are [homosexual] people that are so ashamed of who they are, That God couldn't love them for who they are, And that is something that will haunt me until the day I die. . . No, I don't believe [you can change someone's sexual attraction]. " He continued by saying that almost all of the people he has seen go through conversion therapy, Including himself, Haven't successfully converted to heterosexuality (S9). IV. SourcesBecause there have been some issues with me not being able to post my argument with the hyperlinks in the sources section, Please refer to the sources I cite in the comments section.