Google directs parents to “conversion therapy” websites
When parents search Google for support or information about their LGBTQ children, the results often highlight websites run by right-wing religious groups promoting so-called “conversion therapy.” These platforms portray homosexuality as a “sin” or a “problem,” misleading families instead of offering accurate guidance.
What is “conversion therapy”?
“Conversion therapy” refers to harmful and unscientific practices aimed at “changing” an LGBTQ person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Major medical and psychological associations around the world have condemned these methods, stressing that they inflict serious psychological harm, including trauma, depression, and higher risks of suicide.
For instance, searching for “accurate information on gay kids” may direct users to Focus on the Family, a long-standing anti-LGBTQ organization that promotes dangerous approaches under the label of “conversion therapy.”
Experts say the problem lies in Google’s algorithm: the system does not check the truthfulness of content but ranks results by clicks, popularity, and web link networks. As a result, harmful and misleading resources are often prioritized over reliable, science-based information.
This not only threatens the mental health of LGBTQ youth but also leaves their families without access to safe and supportive resources. Specialists emphasize that Google has an ethical responsibility to ensure such dangerous content is not presented as legitimate “resources.”
The issue was first reported by Uncloseted Media.
