When most imagine a dystopian novel they see a place where the protagonist is shunned and tourcherd, throw to the streets and marked as a freak, simply because of a forbidden love in their society. For some this is an all too harsh reality. Adolescence and early adulthood is difficult enough for the average person, but for those who identify outside of the normal, a new layer of fear and uncertainty is packed on. LGBT+ identifying individuals are faced with countless challenges and struggles as they discover themselves and the world they live in, two of these struggles are far out of their control: conversion therapy and marriage equality. Conversion therapy by definition by the American Psychological Association is “counseling and psychotherapy to attempt to eliminate individuals’ sexual desires for members of their own sex.” This practice does not unnerve many individuals who are not familiar with the practice or who believe sexual orientation is a choice. Infact, many churches and religious groups condone and encourage …show more content…
Many advocates for the ban of gay marriage cited religious texts and gods as their source saying man cannot define the meaning of marriage, only a god could. As religion is often used as a battering ram against the equality of marriage it has been claimed that homosexuality is unnatural and marriage for these couples would lead to moral decay and a “slippery slope” to things such as pedofilia and beastiality being legalized. The argument of that marriage exists for the subsequent children of the couple is also used, the basis being that a gay or lesbian couple could not have children “naturally”. Tied into this is the argument of children needing a mother and father to develop properly and not be at risk for unhealthy behaviors such as early sexual activity, drug or alcohol abuse, and the