North Carolina Still Allows Professionals to Practice Conversion Therapy on Minors
For 14 months, Seven Atsilaâs life was a nightmare.Â
The then 15-year-old Waxhaw resident, who was assigned female at birth but now identifies as two-spirit, an indigenous term used to describe someone who has both masculine and feminine traits, had been struggling with his gender identity along with other behavioral issues.Â
His parents thought it would be helpful to enroll Atsila at Solstice East, a treatment center outside of Asheville for adolescent girls struggling with everything from ADHD and academic issues to substance abuse and addiction, in 2015.Â
This is where Atsila, now 22, says he was forced to undergo conversion therapy while he continued to struggle with his gender identity.