TL;DR
- Activists protested at Stonewall against a Supreme Court ruling on conversion therapy.
- The ruling threatens protections for LGBTQ+ youth in New York.
- Speakers emphasized conversion therapy as abuse, not therapy.
- Calls for lawmakers to strengthen LGBTQ+ protections.
- Prominent activists and drag queens rallied for change.
In a fiery display of solidarity, advocates gathered at the iconic Stonewall National Monument in New York City to denounce the Supreme Court’s shocking decision to void Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy. This ruling, which many see as a direct threat to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth, has ignited outrage across the nation. The rally, held on a Wednesday, featured prominent activists, survivors of conversion therapy, and even celebrated drag queens, all united in their call for action.
“I am a trans, queer woman, and I am a nurse,” declared Qween Amor, an activist and registered nurse, as she stood at the heart of the protest. “I am standing at Stonewall because something dangerous just happened, and we cannot pretend that it didn’t.” Amor, who has witnessed the devastating effects of conversion therapy firsthand, emphasized the urgent need for lawmakers to step up and protect vulnerable youth from such harmful practices.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which came down on the Transgender Day of Visibility, was a staggering 8-1 decision that deemed conversion therapy, when offered as talk therapy, as protected free speech. The majority opinion stated, “Consistent with the First Amendment’s jealous protections for the individual’s right to think and speak freely, this Court has long held that laws regulating speech based on its subject matter or ‘communicative content’ are ‘presumptively unconstitutional.’” But activists at the rally were quick to counter that efforts to change one’s sexuality or gender identity should never be labeled as therapy.
Brian Romero, a candidate for the New York State Assembly, voiced the concerns of many when he stated, “What we see when individuals experience conversion therapy is adults who grow up to be homeless, who suffer from substance abuse, depression, anxiety, suicidality, an inability to sustain relationships and connect. These are incredibly harmful results of this decision.” The rally was not just a protest; it was a demand for action from lawmakers to ensure that such practices remain illegal in New York.
Jay Walker, co-founder of the Queer Liberation March, echoed these sentiments, urging lawmakers in progressive states to take immediate action. “We need them to pore over this decision and make sure that we have laws in place that will continue to protect young, queer, trans, and questioning children from the abuses that conversion therapy would inflict on them,” he said passionately.
Adding to the fervor, drag queen and activist Marti Cummings delivered a powerful speech that highlighted the hypocrisy of political leaders who claim to protect children while simultaneously enabling abusive practices like conversion therapy. “The party of family values and protecting children are not protecting children. They are the ones who are perpetrating abuse and violence, and they say they do it in the name of God,” Cummings declared, reminding the crowd that true religious freedom encompasses love and acceptance for all.
As the rally continued, it became clear that the fight against conversion therapy is far from over. Advocates are determined to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth are protected and that the harmful legacy of conversion therapy is put to rest for good. With the spirit of Stonewall behind them, they are ready to take on the challenge and demand the rights and protections that every young person deserves.