As the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could reshape how states protect LGBTQ+ youth, a new documentary short from The Trevor Project places lived experience at the center of the conversation.
Released Jan. 27, the third episode of Sharing Space continues the organization’s documentary-style roundtable series, bringing together LGBTQ+ young people for candid discussions moderated by trusted adults and allies. This installment features six survivors of conversion therapy, a widely discredited practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The conversation is guided by a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist.
The timing is deliberate. While more than 20 states have enacted laws banning conversion therapy for minors, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing Chiles v. Salazar, a challenge to Colorado’s prohibition. A ruling could have ripple effects nationwide, potentially weakening or upending similar protections elsewhere.
What Conversion Therapy Looks Like in Real Life
Rather than framing the issue through policy alone, Sharing Space centers first-hand testimony. Participants describe the emotional damage, isolation, and long-term consequences that followed their experiences.
“I’m not broken. I’m not fixed. I’m just different,” said Dr. Bobbie Glass during the episode. “Conversion therapy did not do anything to get rid of my transness. It made me feel super ashamed. It made me depressed. It sent me into clinical depression and years of anti-depressants and suicidality.”
Glass also spoke about the ongoing work of undoing that harm. “There’s a whole lot of stuff that I still work on to this day, and one of the biggest ones for me right now is [unlearning] that ‘people like me don’t deserve to be happy,’” she said. “And I am living this life that is just full of abundance.”
A Practice That Hasn’t Disappeared
Despite a common belief that conversion therapy belongs to a past era, research suggests otherwise. Studies consistently link the practice to heightened risks of depression, trauma, and suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth.
Data from The Trevor Project underscores the concern. In a recent study tracking nearly 1,700 LGBTQ+ young people over one year, reports of being threatened with conversion therapy doubled from 11% to 22%. Exposure also increased, rising from 9% to 15%.
Those who experienced conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide, and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple attempts within a single year.
Why Storytelling Matters Right Now
For The Trevor Project, the goal of Sharing Space extends beyond awareness. The series aims to challenge how conversion therapy is discussed in public discourse.
“Too often, political debates and news stories about this topic fail to include the LGBTQ+ people who have been subjected to conversion therapy,” said Nolan Scott, senior director of marketing and content at The Trevor Project. “Our goal with this episode is to show the real people, and share the real stories, behind the headlines.”
Scott noted that while legal arguments unfold, the impact on young people and families is immediate and deeply personal.
Where to Watch and Where to Get Help
All episodes of Sharing Space are available on The Trevor Project’s YouTube channel.
If you or someone you know needs support, The Trevor Project offers free, confidential crisis services 24/7. Trained counselors can be reached by calling 1-866-488-7386, chatting at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or texting START to 678678.
