(Image source from: Obama Calls for End to the psychiatric therapies aimed at Re-Conversion})

The US President Barack Obama called for an end to the ongoing psychiatric therapies that were aimed at changing the sexual orientation of gay, lesbian and transgender youth. The move came after a petitioner who called Obama to back a law to ban conversion therapy.

The White House statement, written by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, is in response to a petition calling for Obama to back a law to ban conversion therapy, which is supported by some socially conservative organizations and religious doctors.

According to the statement of senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, the decision was taken after a petition filed following the suicide by a 17 old transgender youth Leelah Alcorn, after her parents forced her to attend conversion therapy, pulled her out of school and isolated her in an attempt to change her gender identity. "The overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm," Jarrett said.

"As part of our dedication to protecting America's youth, this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors," Jarrett added.

Alcorn had posted a suicide note to her Tumblr blog, and committed suicide by walking out in front of oncoming traffic on the Interstate 71 highway. It seems her death brought change in the administration.

-Kannamsai