top of page

What is SOGICE?

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY CHANGE EFFORTS

Sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE)—sometimes called “conversion” or “reparative” therapy—refer to practices that attempt to repress and alter a person’s sexual orientation from lesbian, gay, or bisexual to heterosexual or gender identity from transgender to cisgender. Major professional organizations oppose SOGICE (e.g., the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association). With substantial evidence of serious harms associated with exposure to SOGICE, particularly for minors, states (and multiple cities and counties) have passed bipartisan laws or regulations prohibiting SOGICE. 

Fish, J. &Russell, S.T. (2020). Sexual orientation and gender  identity change efforts are unethical and harmful. American Journal of Public Health, 110, 1113_1114. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305765

What is being done?

At the National Level

Senate Bill 2242 - Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2021 would protect individuals from a mental health professional engaging in any practice of attempting to prevent a person from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender nonconforming. This bill is currently languishing in committee but we believe this would be a powerful piece of legislation for our profession and our nation. Resources: HRC Statement & Senate Bill Language

At the State Level

Though Oregon currently protects people under the age of 18 from the threat of conversion therapy we do not currently protect adults. Oregon SAIGE is advocating for action to be taken on the state level through legislation or rulemaking.

bottom of page