#AM_Equality Tip Sheet
February 24, 2016
By HRC STAFF
Human Rights Campaign
HRC, NCLR, SPLC TEAM UP TO FILE HISTORIC FTC COMPLAINT AGAINST “CONVERSION THERAPY” QUACKS: HRC, SPLC and NCLR have filed a historic federal consumer fraud complaint, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), against Virginia-based People Can Change (PCC) -- an organization that preys on vulnerable LGBT people and families by peddling junk pseudoscience and claiming they can change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The complaint alleges that PCC’s advertisements and business practices, which expressly and implicitly claim that they can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, constitute deceptive, false, and misleading practices and can cause serious harm to consumers. This complaint comes as the movement to end “conversion therapy” continues to gain momentum. Earlier this month, Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Cory Booker of New Jersey, joined by California Reps. Jackie Speier and Ted Lieu, issued a letter to the FTC urging the agency to use its authority to take “all actions possible to stop the unfair, deceptive and fraudulent practice of conversion therapy. …” Their request follows a groundbreaking Department of Health and Human Services report, and independent statements issued by President Obama, Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, calling for an end to the practices. California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia have passed laws protecting LGBTQ minors from “conversion therapy,” and more than 20 states have introduced similar legislation this year. New York is also adopting regulations to protect youth from “conversion therapy” as a result of executive action by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.