Israeli Health Minister: ‘No scientific evidence’ supporting gay conversion therapies
Israeli Health Minister Yael German was warned that “there is no scientific evidence” supporting gay conversion therapies, and that such practices “may also cause harm to the individual.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Health Ministry on Sunday issued a position paper of the Israel Psychologists Council warning against conversation therapy.
Yael German (Yesh Atid) had asked the groups for the position on the technique.
“These are not worthy ethically or professionally,” the groups stated.
The Health Ministry has now issued the warning that gay conversion therapies “create false impressions of scientific recognition of the technique even though there is no scientific evidence that it is at all successful.
“It may also cause harm to the individual.”
German added: “This is another proof that sexual orientation is, by its nature, not possible to change and does not need to be changed. Sexual orientation is part of a person’s identity and does not need treatment or conversion.”
Yael German, a long-time supporter of gay rights, first submitted a surrogacy bill for gay couples this year. However, it had stalled in March when housing minister Uri Ariel appealed against it, claiming the bill creates “moral and ethical” questions.
