Ann Russo is a licensed therapist and advocate, passionate about understanding the intersections of mental health, sexuality, and spirituality. Ann and Stacy discuss the mental, emotional, and physical ramifications of interventions like conversion therapy and gender affirming care, why leading with love matters, and why our society is only as good as our most marginalized.

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Key Takeaways
Introductions
- Ann Russo, is a mental health professional, author, and advocate specializing in sex positivity, queer issues, and religious trauma. She is in the field of 20+ yrs and queer female founder of AMR Therapy. AMR has over 1500 clients with training programs, consulting services, and publications.
- Ann has master’s degrees in both Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount and Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. Her unique educational background allows her to approach therapy from a deeply compassionate and nuanced perspective.
What Helps Queer Folks?
Affirming care does not mean you’re taking a 12 year old in to get hormones and surgery. Affirming care is, ‘hey, you’re having this experience, I’m here with you through this experience, let’s have you work with someone who can better parse out what this means for you. So when we’re denying affirming care we’re denying someone an outlet to even parse through and think through and move through something. – Ann Russo
- Same-gender sexual orientation (including identity, behavior, and attraction) and variations in gender identity and gender expression are a part of the normal spectrum of human diversity and do not constitute a mental disorder. There is limited research on conversion therapy efforts among children and adolescents; however, none of the existing research supports the premise that mental or behavioral health interventions can alter gender identity or sexual orientation. [source]
- Interventions aimed at a fixed outcome, such as gender conformity or heterosexual orientation, including those aimed at changing gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are coercive, can be harmful, and should not be part of behavioral health treatment. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013b; American Psychological Association, 2010; National Association of Social Workers, 2008). [source]
Conversion Therapy or Gender Affirming Care?
Lead with love. Truly, it is that simple. We engage dozens of people a week that we don’t know, whether it’s at the grocery store, the car wash, our children’s schools. Respect people. Smile at them. Say hello to them. Ask them how they’re doing. Let them know you’re there and you care. – Ann Russo
- LGBTQ youth are at higher risk for suicide due to increased stress as a result of living as part of a stigmatized minority, as well as isolation from family and peers and victimization. As of 2021, half of transgender and non-binary youth in the U.S. had considered suicide within the past year, compared to around one third of cisgender youth. Moreover, the proportion of suicide attempts amongst LGBTQ youth was considerably greater among those who had experienced pressure from others to change their sexuality or gender identity, as well as among those who reported that others failed to respect their personal pronouns. [source]
- Modern forms of conversion therapy appear to largely take the form of talking therapies and spiritual interventions. There is evidence that these forms of conversion therapy can be harmful – but there is no robust evidence that identifies whether certain techniques or practices used by conversion therapists are more or less harmful than others. The evidence base is larger for sexual orientation change efforts than for gender identity change efforts. A growing number of legal jurisdictions are legislating to restrict conversion therapy. The scope of such laws varies and, because many legislative measures are relatively recent, there is little evidence on what are the most effective policies for ending conversion therapy. [source]
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Note: Stacy and her guests are not medical professionals. This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It is NOT intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any physical or mental illness. We always recommend you consult a licensed service provider.