It’s not anything new: when an organization or a group with any kind of agenda (positive or negative) realizes their label, acronym or title is potentially offensive, not as impacting as it once was or simply seems outdated by evolving culture, it gets changed.
Everybody does it. From the far left to the far right. Now the right’s trying to pull a fast one with the term “conversion therapy.” Their new words (apparently designed to soften the harshness with a few select adjectives) are “Gender Exploratory Therapy” and “Gender Exploration Therapy.”
Because of these new terms, organizations like GLAAD, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) have urged media platforms to create stronger measures to prevent advertising on the discriminatory practice.
“Conversion Therapy” is a dangerous and traumatic practice that attempts to suppress LGBTQ+ desires or feelings. AMA explains that it “often includes unethical techniques including electric shock, deprivation of food and liquid, chemically induced nausea and masturbation reconditioning.”
These practices, AMA continues, can lead to “suicidal behaviors and cause significant psychological distress, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, internalized homophobia, self-blame, intrusive imagery and sexual dysfunction.”
In 2024, a report from the Global Project on Hate and Extremism explains how social media
companies and search engines are failing to mitigate harmful content and ads on “Conversion Therapy.” The report highlights the enormous amount of work media platforms need to do and lists ways to improve their policies.
Because of the irreversible damage that comes from “Conversion Therapy” or the newly coined version “Gender Exploration Therapy, GLAAD has worked with social media platforms to better their policies. They have helped platforms like TikTok update their community guidelines to include adding “clarity to the types of hateful [ideology] prohibited on such platform. This includes…content that supports or promotes conversion therapy programs.”
YouTube and Twitter (now X) have added “Conversion Therapy” to their content and ad
guidelines. X does not have a policy for conversion therapy, and YouTube has not implemented information about the practice in its Hate Speech Policy.
Other companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have policies, but are separated from other tiers of hate speech.
How to report Anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech and harassment on social media platforms
Most major platforms have some sort of policy that prohibits hate speech on the basis of protected characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity. If you’re affected by hate speech, be sure to take a screenshot of the comments and continue to monitor what’s happening. Learn how to create a safer experience on the internet with GLAAD’s LGBTQ Digital Safety Guide, which you can find here: https://glaad.org/smsi/lgbtq-digital-safety-guide/