Prevalence of Exposure to Sexual Orientation Change Efforts and Associated Sociodemographic Characteristics and Psychosocial Health Outcomes among Canadian Sexual Minority Men

Abstract

Objective: Sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), or “conversion therapy,” are pseudoscientific practices intended to suppress or deny sexual attraction to members of the same gender/sex. There are currently no data available to inform estimates of the prevalence of SOCE exposure in Canada. The objective of this study is therefore to describe the prevalence, social–demographic correlates, and health consequences of SOCE among Canadian sexual minority men. Methods: Sex Now 2011 to 2012 was a cross-sectional nonprobability survey of Canadian sexual minority men. Respondents were asked about lifetime SOCE exposure. We estimated prevalence of SOCE exposure by sociodemographic characteristics and examined psychosocial health outcomes among those exposed to SOCE. Results: Of N = 8,388 respondents, 3.5% (95% confidence interval, 3.2% to 4.1%) reported having ever been exposed to SOCE. Exposure to SOCE was higher among gay men (as compared with bisexual men), transgender respondents (as compared with cisgender respondents), those who were “out” about their sexuality (as compared with those who were not “out”), Indigenous men (as compared with White men), other racial minorities (as compared with White men), and those earning a personal income <$30,000 (as compared with those earning ≥$60,000 CAD). Exposure to SOCE was positively associated with loneliness, regular illicit drug use, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt. Conclusions: SOCE exposure remains prevalent and associated with substantial psychosocial morbidity among sexual minority men in Canada. All levels of government in Canada should consider action to ban SOCE. SOCE survivors likely require intervention and support from the Canadian health-care system.