🌈 When “Help” Becomes Harm: Conversion Therapy, Youth Suicide, and the Urgent Call for Protection🌈
- Paula Sadler
- 4 minutes ago
- 11 min read
Introduction: A Call to Wake Up, To Love, and To End Harm
Across the United States and throughout the world, there are still individuals, institutions, and belief systems that teach that LGBTQIA+ people—especially children—must be changed, corrected, or “converted” in order to be accepted.
These beliefs have given rise to what is commonly known as conversion therapy—a range of practices rooted in the idea that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is something wrong, something broken, something that must be fixed.
These practices exist in many forms:
In private counseling settings
In religious environments
Within families and communities
And in some parts of the world, reinforced through laws, punishment, and violence
While often framed as care, guidance, or spiritual intervention, these practices have caused profound harm—emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and in some cases, physically.
Around the world, LGBTQIA+ people have faced:
Rejection and abandonment
Psychological and spiritual abuse
Physical violence and coercion
Imprisonment, and in some regions, even execution
This is not a matter of belief alone. This is a matter of human dignity, safety, and truth.
🕊️ A Direct Call to Those Who Have Caused Harm
To those who believe LGBTQIA+ people must be changed…
To those who have supported or participated in practices that shame, control, or attempt to erase another person’s identity…
To those who have caused harm—whether through words, actions, silence, or systems of power…
You are now being called to wake up.
You are being called to remember the true purpose of your life, and the true essence of God’s teaching:
Unconditional love.
A love that does not demand transformation. A love that does not punish authenticity. A love that does not harm in the name of righteousness.
If harm has been done, there is still a path forward.
A path of:
Awareness
Accountability
Repentance
Healing
And making amends
You are being called now to:
Forgive what you have been taught that led you to harm
Release beliefs rooted in fear and judgment
And commit—fully and immediately—to causing no further harm
🌍 The Turning Point
We stand at a moment in history where truth can no longer be ignored.
The voices of survivors are rising. The evidence is undeniable. The harm is real.
And so is the opportunity for transformation.
This is not just about ending harmful practices.
It is about restoring love where there has been fear Restoring truth where there has been distortion And restoring dignity where it has been denied
🌈 A New Path Forward
The future calls for something greater:
Not conversion, but acceptance
Not shame, but affirmation
Not control, but compassion
Not harm, but healing
Because LGBTQIA+ people are not problems to be solved.
They are human beings to be loved.
They are sacred expressions of life itself.
And the time has come—for all of us—to live that truth.
🌈 When “Help” Becomes Harm: Conversion Therapy, Youth Suicide, and the Urgent Call for Protection
By Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler
Universal Rainbow Faith (URF)
🧭 Introduction: A Defining Moment
A recent U.S. Supreme Court case—Chiles v. Salazar—has brought national attention to one of the most urgent moral and public health crises of our time: the treatment of LGBTQIA+ youth under the guise of “therapy.”
While the Court’s ruling focused on free speech protections, the real-world impact extends far beyond legal theory. It raises a profound question:
Who protects children when harm is framed as belief?
⚖️ The Reality Behind the Ruling
The case involved a licensed counselor who argued that restricting certain forms of talk therapy violated her First Amendment rights. The Court agreed that states must be careful when regulating speech, even in therapeutic settings.
But here is the truth that must not be lost:
The ruling did not determine that conversion therapy is safe
It did not dispute the overwhelming medical consensus of harm
It did, however, weaken the ability of states to prevent that harm before it happens
Major organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have long concluded:
Conversion therapy is ineffective
It is associated with depression, trauma, and suicide risk
📊 The Scope of the Crisis
🧒 Youth in the United States
Approximately 70 million children under age 18 live in the U.S.
Around 2 million identify as LGBTQ+ (ages 13–17)
Among them:
About 5% (1 in 20) report having undergone conversion therapy
That equals roughly 100,000 youth currently living with that experience
💔 Suicide & Mental Health
According to The Trevor Project:
39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year
12% attempted suicide
LGBTQ+ youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than peers
1.8 million youth consider suicide annually
Suicide is:
🧠 The Critical Transition Years (18–24)
Young adults leaving home face:
Loss of family support
Financial instability
Emotional trauma from rejection
Ongoing depression and anxiety
More than 50% report symptoms of anxiety and depression
💊 Substance Abuse & Self-Harm
Research consistently shows higher rates of:
Drug and alcohol misuse
Self-harm behaviors
Risky coping mechanisms
These are not random—they are responses to:
Rejection
Shame
Identity suppression
Trauma
⚠️ Conversion Therapy: What It Really Is
While extreme practices like electric shock are mostly historical, modern conversion therapy often includes:
Psychological pressure
Religious coercion
Identity suppression
Shame-based counseling
The United Nations has described some forms as:
“Cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment”
🌍 A Global Issue
Globally:
Studies show 2%–34% prevalence among LGBTQ populations
Median global estimate: ~8.5%
For transgender individuals: ~12%
There is no single global count—but the problem is widespread and ongoing.
🌈 A Message to LGBTQIA+ Youth Who May Be Experiencing Harm
If you are under 18 and identify as LGBTQIA+, please hear this clearly:
You are not broken. You are not a sin. You are not an abomination. You are sacred, worthy, and deserving of love exactly as you are.
If you are being harmed at home—whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or sexually—that is not okay. You deserve to be safe.
If you are being:
Forced into conversion therapy
Threatened with punishment for who you are
Shamed, controlled, or made to feel guilty for your identity
Told that your existence is wrong or must be changed
That is abuse. And there is help.
🛑 Your safety matters most
Sometimes getting help may mean:
Speaking to a trusted adult
Talking to a school counselor or teacher
Contacting Child Protective Services
Reaching out to a crisis hotline
In some situations, it may mean leaving your current home environment to be somewhere safe.
You may fear losing your family.
But remember:
Your safety, your life, and your well-being matter more than anything.
💖 You are not alone
There are people and communities who will:
Love you
Affirm you
Protect you
At Universal Rainbow Faith, you have a spiritual home where you are seen as sacred.
☎️ Resources
The Trevor Project — Call/Text 988
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 24/7
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline — 1-800-422-4453
National Runaway Safeline — 1-800-786-2929
🕊️ Prayer for Healing and Protection
Dear Father Mother God, please help these children that are in harm’s way of being converted rather than being loved as they are and cherished as the beautiful people they will become. Help heal this national and global problem of child abuse through fanatical religious conversion and harmful conversion practices. Let the truth be seen that there is nothing wrong with LGBTQ youth, children, and people—that they are beautiful creations of Yours, not meant to be converted.
Any religion or spiritual practice that demonizes LGBTQ people goes against true spiritual principles and is harmful to societies. That the real sin is the hate, the harm, the unacceptance, and the abuse and torture—spiritual and physical trauma—not only of young people but adults in the United States and around the world.
We pray that this ends immediately, and that all of those who have been harmed are healed. And all of those who have caused this great harm and hold this hatred in their hearts, and this belief that LGBTQ people are sinful or abominations or against their religion or against You—that they learn the truth. That they have been wrong, and that they have been doing harm in Your name—causing death, sadness, and suffering.
That weight bears upon them, and that they must ask to be forgiven. They must make amends for the great harm they have done to humanity and to their own children, to their own family members and friends whom they have tortured through their indifference, through their disowning, through their shaming and guilting. That they have been the judge, jury, and executioner of one of Your greatest and most beautiful creations, and that they have caused darkness to be in this world.
It is through them—their own self-will and their own ignorance of true spiritual law and the principle of unconditional love, which they know nothing of. They only thought they were loving when they were harming with their hate. We pray for that to be healed.
🌈 Final Call
This is not just a policy issue. This is not just a legal debate.
This is a matter of life, dignity, and truth.
The evidence is clear. The harm is real. And the responsibility belongs to all of us.
While not presented as a single official platform, these positions reflect a pattern of legal advocacy and policy efforts pursued in courts and legislation by the Alliance Defending Freedom
“Kaley Chiles is not an underground operator—she is a licensed mental health counselor working in a private practice, supported by one of the most influential Christian legal organizations in the country. Her case represents the modern, legally protected form of conversion-related counseling now being debated at the highest levels of law.”
👤 Who is Kaley Chiles (Full Bio Summary)
🧠 Profession
Licensed mental health counselor (LPC) in Colorado
Practices in Colorado Springs
🎓 Education
Holds a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling
✝️ Religious identity
Identifies as a practicing Christian
States her counseling work is an extension of her faith
🏥 Type of practice
Works in private practice counseling (not a government program)
Provides talk therapy (no medical procedures)
🧠 Approach to counseling
Offers faith-based counseling
States she helps clients:
Align with their religious beliefs
Live in accordance with what she describes as “God’s design”
⚖️ Why she filed the case
Challenged Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy for minors
Claimed it violated:
Free speech
Religious freedom
Said the law prevented her from:
Talking with clients about goals related to sexuality or gender aligned with faith
🤝 Who supports her
🏛️ Primary legal support
Alliance Defending Freedom
A major Christian legal advocacy organization
Represented her in court
Filed the lawsuit on her behalf
What they do:
Litigate cases involving:
Religious freedom
Free speech
Opposition to LGBTQ protections
Have argued multiple cases before the Supreme Court
⚖️ Broader support base
She is also supported by:
1. Religious communities
Especially conservative Christian networks
Clients often come through faith-based referrals
2. Legal and political allies
Conservative legal movements focused on:
Expanding First Amendment protections
Limiting government regulation of counseling
3. Ideological support groups
Organizations that:
Oppose conversion therapy bans
Support “client-directed” or “faith-based” counseling
📰 Recent confirmation (from news reporting)
She won at the Supreme Court (8–1 ruling)
Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom
Case focused on free speech in therapy settings
Critics warn it could undermine protections for minors
🧭 Important clarity
✔ What she is:
A licensed therapist
Providing faith-based talk therapy
Operating in a private counseling setting
✔ Who supports her:
ADF (major legal force behind the case)
Religious networks and clients
Free speech legal advocates
⚠️ What she is NOT:
Not part of a “camp” or institutional program
Not using physical methods (based on available evidence)
🧾 Areas of Advocacy and Legal Efforts Attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
Defending the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman
Challenging legal protections for same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ relationships
Expanding “religious freedom” exemptions that allow individuals and businesses to refuse services related to LGBTQ+ identities
Opposing nondiscrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity
Supporting restrictions on gender-affirming care, particularly for minors
Supporting policies that limit transgender participation in school sports
Advocating for parental control over school curricula involving LGBTQ+ topics
Supporting laws that restrict how sexual orientation and gender identity are discussed in schools
Challenging state bans on conversion therapy (including involvement in cases like Chiles v. Salazar)
Defending the rights of therapists and religious counselors to provide counseling aligned with religious beliefs regarding sexuality and gender
Advocating for the rights of religious organizations to operate according to traditional doctrines on sexuality and gender
Supporting the right of adoption and foster agencies to refuse placement with same-sex couples based on religious beliefs
Litigating cases that prioritize religious expression over LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections
Engaging in international advocacy related to religious freedom and laws affecting LGBTQ+ rights
⚖️ Understanding the Spectrum: Modern Conversion Counseling vs. Documented Abuse
One of the most important aspects of the current national conversation is recognizing that conversion therapy does not exist in just one form.
It spans a spectrum—from extreme, historically documented abuse to modern, talk-based counseling approaches like those at the center of Chiles v. Salazar.
Understanding this distinction is critical—not to minimize harm, but to fully grasp how it continues today.
🧠 The Modern Model: Licensed, Talk-Based Counseling
In the case of Kaley Chiles, the model is:
Conducted by a licensed professional counselor (LPC)
Delivered in a private practice setting
Based entirely on talk therapy (no physical methods)
Framed as client-directed, meaning:
The client expresses a desire to align with religious beliefs
Often connected to faith-based values and identity goals
Supporters describe this approach as:
Voluntary
Respectful of religious freedom
Focused on personal belief alignment
⚠️ The Core Concern
Critics—including major medical organizations—argue that even in this form:
The underlying premise remains:
That LGBTQ identity is something to change, suppress, or redirect
For minors especially:
Consent may be influenced by family, religion, or authority
Internalized shame may drive the request itself
👉 This raises a key question:
Can something be considered “voluntary” if the environment itself pressures the outcome?
🧨 The Extreme End: Documented Abusive Practices
At the other end of the spectrum are well-documented historical and global practices, including:
Aversion therapy (electric shocks, nausea induction)
Forced isolation or residential “conversion” programs
Physical punishment or coercion
Religious “deliverance” rituals involving fear or restraint
In some parts of the world:
Criminalization, imprisonment, and violence against LGBTQ individuals
These practices have been widely condemned by:
The United Nations
The American Psychological Association
As:
Cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment
🔍 Where the Debate Now Lives
The modern legal and cultural debate is no longer centered on the most extreme cases.
Those are broadly condemned.
Instead, it now focuses on:
Whether subtle, talk-based, belief-driven counseling should be allowed—especially for minors
This is the space where:
Law
Religion
Mental health
And child protection
All intersect—and often collide.
🧭 The Key Distinction
Aspect | Modern Counseling Model | Extreme Conversion Practices |
Setting | Licensed private practice | Camps, institutions, underground |
Method | Talk therapy | Physical, psychological, or coercive |
Framing | “Client-directed” | Forced or imposed |
Visibility | Legal, regulated | Often hidden or unregulated |
Harm debate | Contested | Widely acknowledged |
💬 A Critical Truth
Even when the method changes, the message can remain the same:
That LGBTQ identity is something to be corrected.
And that message—delivered to a child—can carry profound psychological weight.
🕊️ A Call for Clarity and Compassion
This is not about confusing all practices into one category.
It is about recognizing that:
Harm can be overt or subtle
Coercion can be physical or psychological
And the impact on a young person’s identity can be deep and lasting
🌈 Moving Forward
As society continues to wrestle with these questions, one principle must remain clear:
Children deserve to be safe, affirmed, and free from pressure to change who they are.
Whether harm comes through force or through suggestion, through punishment or through belief—
The outcome matters. And so does the responsibility to protect.
In Truth
Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler
You are loved just as you are, and as you are becoming. You are free to be yourself God Loves you, and will always love you.