Debunked Practice Linked to High Blood Pressure and Heart Inflammation
Delray Beach, FL – Truth Wins Out is calling for a total ban on the barbaric and debunked practice of “ex-gay” conversion therapy following a study published in the JAMA Network Open. The groundbreaking scholarship reveals that individuals subjected to conversion therapy are nearly three times as likely to develop high blood pressure and exhibit elevated markers of heart inflammation—significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
“We already knew the cruel and discredited practice of conversion therapy was heartbreaking, but now we know it can also literally break your heart,” said Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out. “The chronic stress needed to constantly live a lie can lead to high blood pressure and heart inflammation.”
The research, conducted between December 2023 and October 2024, analyzed health data from 703 sexual and gender minority individuals assigned male at birth. Approximately 10% reported undergoing conversion therapy, a discredited practice aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The study found that those exposed to conversion therapy had significantly higher rates of hypertension and systemic inflammation, even after adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors.
Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out, continued:
“The fact that LGBTQ youth are subjected to practices that can lead to lifelong cardiovascular issues is both alarming and unacceptable. Conversion therapy is a form of psychological torture masquerading as treatment. It’s time for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities to recognize the profound harm inflicted by these practices and to take decisive action to ban them nationwide.”
Despite widespread condemnation from major medical and mental health organizations, conversion therapy remains legal in several jurisdictions. Recent political efforts have even sought to overturn existing bans, further endangering vulnerable populations.
Truth Wins Out urges lawmakers at all levels to enact comprehensive bans on conversion therapy and to support initiatives that promote acceptance and affirm the identities of LGBTQ individuals.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Wayne Besen, please contact:
Wayne Besen: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Truth Wins Out is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to advance liberty and democracy, protect the rights of LGBTQ people and other minorities, combat religious extremism, and fight against the spread of disinformation.
Learn more about the history of “ex-gay” conversion therapy today. Read Lies with a Straight Face
