An “ex-gay” group has been accused of deceptive and fraudulent practices in the latest legal battle against “gay-conversion therapy.”
National LGBT organizations have filed a complaint in a bid to shut down the Virginia based group, People Can Change, accusing the group of breaking the prohibition on unfair and deceptive acts.
The group claims to be able to “minimize or eliminate” same-sex attraction in men and holds various therapy sessions ranging from $75 to $875.
Various LGBT and human rights groups including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Lesbian Rights have filed the complaint asking the Federal Trade Commission to stop People Can Change from advertising and marketing.
The complaint accuses People Can Change of defrauding buyers “based on the false premise” that being gay is a mental illness or a defect that can be “cured.”
A spokesperson from the National Center for Lesbian Rights stated:
“We sincerely look forward to working with the Federal Trade Commission to investigate this fraudulent and unethical organization – along with every trusted professional who profits from the anguish of LGBTQ youth and their families.”
The complaint states:
“There is substantial competent and reliable scientific evidence that conversion therapy, including the methods employed by PCC, is ineffective and can and often does result in significant health and safety risks to consumers of those services.”
Despite this, the People Can Change website claims that many men who have undertaken the workshops have “found the level and intensity of same-sex attractions diminish over time” and have even developed “new or increased romantic and sexual attractions to the opposite sex.”
Rich Wyler, the founder of People Can Change has hit back at the complaint, calling it an “act of hate and vicious bullying against our community of adult men” and genuinely believes the workshops are not hurting anyone.
President of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin stated he hopes this newest complaint will see the Federal Trade Commission put a stop to conversion therapy once and for all and stated:
“This is dangerous junk science that uses fear and shame to tell young people the only way to find love and acceptance is by changing the very nature of who they are.”
Image by People Can Change.
