Conversion Therapy Practice : Policy Brief : Advancing LGBTQI+ Inclusion in American Foreign Policy

Sexual, gender, and bodily diversity are characteristics of every society, every culture, and every country around the world and across time. As stated by President Biden in his February 2021 Memorandum, "All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love." In June 2022, following up on the Memorandum, President Biden issued an Executive Order declaring that the Administration "must safeguard LGBTQI+ youth from dangerous practices like so-called 'conversion therapy'," both at home and overseas. To that end, the White House instructed U.S. foreign affairs agencies to "develop an action plan to promote an end to its use around the world," through the use of foreign assistance programs, participation in multilateral development banks and international development institutions, and through other work by U.S. embassies and missions worldwide. This paper recommends concrete programming ideas to help U.S. government agencies build a comprehensive, politically and culturally responsive global strategy to end conversion therapy practices. This issue brief was prepared by the Council for Global Equality based on consultations with the Council's 32 member organizations, including those with significant expertise in the issue, such as Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Outright International, and the Trevor Project.