Gill Foundation

The Challenge

25 States

still allow so-called “conversion therapy,” exposing minors to a widely discredited practice that attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Medical experts widely agree that conversion therapy is not only unnecessary and ineffective, but also harmful.

“Conversion therapy” laws prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBTQ minors to the harmful practice that attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. These laws do not restrict the practice among religious providers.
States with blue pins reflect states with local-level bans only, and the pin shows the percent of the state population protected by local ordinances.

The Consequences

CONVERSION THERAPY IS Dangerous AND DAMAGING TO LGBTQ YOUTH

  • 67% of LGBTQ youth report someone attempted to convince them to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • 57% of transgender and nonbinary youth who have undergone conversion therapy report a suicide attempt in the last year.
  • 42% of youth who have undergone conversion therapy report a suicide attempt.

National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health (PDF). 2019. The Trevor Project.

THE POWER OF SUPPORT

The Gill Foundation was one of the first funders of efforts to build public support for marriage equality. In 1994, when the foundation was created, only one-quarter of Americans supported marriage for same-sex couples.

Today, a record-high 67% of Americans support LGBTQ couples sharing in the freedom to marry.

Read more about how the Civil Marriage Collaborative won.

Source: Hearts and Minds (PDF). 2015. Proteus Fund.
“Despite Partisan Rancor, Americans Broadly Support LGBTQ Rights.” 2021. PRRI.

OUR WORK IN ACTION

The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made marriage equality the law of the land was life-changing for LGBTQ families across the nation.

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the victory, Gill Foundation grantee Family Equality brought together two families in Texas for a video series on what marriage equality means to them and the challenges ahead.

Watch the six-part series.

 

Help Make a Change

Opponents are trying to erode LGBTQ family recognition and attacking transgender youth in an effort to stall and roll back LGBTQ progress.

We seek funding allies who will join with us to fight back and ensure ALL families and youth are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

 

Get in touch.