Episode 32 - Conversion Therapy is Abusive (with Shlomo Rozenek)

As pride month comes to a close, we tackle the issue of conversion therapy, sometimes referred to as reparative therapy. Conversion therapy is a phony, bigoted process by which a "therapist" (many of whom are not actually licensed mental health professionals) attempts to "convert" their client from some kind of LGBTQ+ identity to cis/straight. There is absolutely no research that shows that such therapy is effective, let alone possible.

Aside from just being quackery, conversion therapy is often deeply abusive, involving practices that amount to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, especially when minors are subjected to it. Despite how harmful conversion therapy is, many rabbonim and therapists continue to refer LGBTQ+ community members to these harmful charlatans.

Joining us to discuss the particulars of these abuses and his own experiences with conversion therapy is Shlomo Rozenek. Shlomo is the director of development and communications for NECHAMA, a Jewish natural disaster relief organization. Shlomo grew up Yeshivish in Far Rockaway, Queens, and now lives on the Upper West Side with his husband, Mattan, and dog, Jax. His favorite thing in the world is Shabbos, and he recommends it to everyone!


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SHOW NOTES:

https://twitter.com/shloze

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_v._JONAH

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/nyregion/conversion-therapy-ban.html

https://forward.com/news/421966/gay-conversion-therapist-yeshiva-university-high-school/

https://www.aacap.org/aacap/policy_statements/2018/Conversion_Therapy.aspx