US President Barack Obama has called for an end to psychiatric therapies that seek to change the sexual orientation of gay, lesbian and transgender youth, the White House said.
The White House statement, written by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, is in response to a petition calling for Mr Obama to back a law to ban conversion therapy.
The therapy is supported by some socially conservative organisations and religious doctors.
The petition was started following the death by suicide in December of transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn.
Leelah, 17, died 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," Ms 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," she said.
