GirlGov Chester County's LGBTQ+ Rights Committee
Hi everyone! We are the GirlGov Chester County LGBTQ+ Rights Committee made up of Sahitya Suresh (Head), Nishita Jakkam, Aalana Vasquez, Diya Kumar, and Alexis Allen. We are advocating for House Bill 729 to be passed in the PA House. This bill will ban mental health professionals from using conversion therapy on minors. House Bill 729 is currently sitting in the Health committee at the PA House, waiting to be voted on. We believe that conversion therapy is a very serious issue that must be addressed in Pennsylvania- which is why we are spreading awareness about this bill.
A major part of our advocacy this year was collecting testimonials. We gathered video and written testimonials of young people (LGBTQ+ members, victims of conversion therapy, and allies) explaining why they believe this bill must be passed and why they personally think that conversion therapy should be banned. Please watch our video and read the testimonials below. We are also advocating for this bill through our social media platform on Instagram @lgbtqrights.pa.
We are hopeful that with strong support from the youth, House Bill 729 will pass, giving children in Pennsylvania protection from conversion therapy. To learn more about our work this year, please read our press release.
Read Testimonials from Community Members
“You are, in essence, attacking everything they knew of themselves, deconstructing the fundamentals of who they are, and attempting to build an unwanted monument to unjust social standards that are not standard in most of society anymore. These programs that some minors are being put through involuntarily is harming their self-esteem, making them feel like they need to be fixed, like there is something wrong with them, and traumatizing their younger, underdeveloped brains.”
“Conversion therapy doesn’t “fix” people because being part of the LGBTQIA+ community isn’t a disease that needs to be cured.”
“Children should be free to love who they love without feeling shameful and wrong.”
“I couldn’t imagine living my life not expressing the way I feel and the person I am. Conversion therapy takes away the freedom of those in the LGBTQ+ community. It suppresses us and tries to change us to be something we are not. The United States of America is ‘the land of the free,’ so why are we taking away the rights of those who just wish to be free and express themselves?”
“No one should get to police how you define yourself or who you choose to love. It’s like telling someone to paint a vibrant picture with black or white colors only. While some may find comfort in black or white, they can’t deny the existence of other colors and peoples pure love for those colors. Let everyone choose how they wish to paint the canvas of their lives.”
“Conversion therapy is harmful for an LGBTQ+ individual as it can lead to depression and anxiety. Moreover, such therapies deny the people basic empathy and dignity. People must be allowed to live a life of dignity and rights without being constantly told that they are “wrong” or their existence is “against the natural order.” To move forward from homophobic practices, the society needs to be sensitized towards the problems faced by the LGBTQ+ community and how denying them basic rights is not just an affront to their dignity, it is an impediment to the progress of society as a whole.”
“I think we as a society have long ways to go to be more accepting towards everyone. It starts with learning about different identities and respecting the decisions of others. I think it is very important to pass this bill because minors, who are especially vulnerable to harmful practices, should not undergo something as traumatic as conversion abuse. I think it is important to realize that most kids are still trying to understand who they are and figure out their own identity, so this kind of harmful pressure can be really bad for their health.”
“I have dealt, every day, with the type of people who would happily support conversion. I have had slurs shouted at me in hallways and rape threats posted on my locker. There have been times I have not felt safe being my loud, openly queer self.”
“People come in all shapes and sizes—the canvas is colorful and quite beautiful. It is important that we stop this need to force individuals into a shape that does not suit them. Remember when you were a child and your thoughts and feelings were not considered or even heard—I dare say, that this would not be difficult to imagine. Our children need to be heard and listened to because they are the ones that can see the beauty and wonder surrounding them…. In a world, where we see children speaking up more than ever, we should not muzzle them or cut down their self-worth in order to meet our needs. There is a reason they are here—they are our future. So, let them discover who they are meant to be.”
“Conversion therapy makes LGBTQ+ youth feel like they are broken, or that something is wrong with them. That is not the case, and they need to know that. Being gay or trans is not a sin or something that needs to be fixed, but rather something that needs to be celebrated, and young LGBTQ+ people may need help becoming themselves and expressing themselves with the help of their parents, or other adults in their life.”
“The fact that conversion therapy still exists is unacceptable – putting children through this abuse and telling them that there is something wrong with them just because of their sexuality leads to permanent trauma and scarring.”
“As a society it’s time that we move beyond blatant hate, start respecting each other’s identity, and recognize that you do not get to “choose” your sexual orientation. Conversion therapy is a harmful practice used to strip the identity from innocent children.”