I personally think its wrong for anyone to be forced into this. Differences & diversity need to be accepted and celebrated.

If anyone chooses to go through this, then he/she should have access to the full arguments from both sides.

Was asked about this by a visitor so I did some research and here's my perspective summed up in 3 areas.

You can bring a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Being stubborn as hell myself, I know the best decisions are made by yourself when you know all the facts.

Rather than say whether it is right or wrong, here's some food for though that I hope will help for the appropriate decision to be made.

A) Methodology of Studies / Arguments Presented
Look deeper into the persuasions, studies and testimonials quoted / presented. Look beyond the passion in the arguments but in the methods, science and logic used to arrive at the findings. If they come from only one group of people, then it's likely the findings are biased.

There isn't clear scientific evidence that indicate the success of conversion therapy as such studies need to be conducted across diverse cross-sections of individuals and not be based predominantly on interviews with subjects arranged by ex-gay ministries; many of them who work at the ministries.

Studies with respondents only from one demographic will always skew results in favour of the group commissioning the study.

B) Methods of Conversion
I found the various methods used to convert distressing as it went to extreme measures like banning the wearing of fashion brands or listening to anything but religious music.

Levy informs me that homosexuality is difficult to treat because it is about more than sexuality -- it is about a way of life. "I want to make a distinction between same-sex attraction and being gay," he says. "That is a whole ideology. It is a lifestyle. It becomes the locus, or organizing principle, of the identity of the human personality." Reparative therapy focuses on getting gays and lesbians to stop talking or walking "gay." One "ex-gay" program in Memphis, Tenn., Refuge, bars men from wearing jewelry, donning Calvin Klein clothes and listening to secular music. http://dir.salon.com/news/feature/2005/07/19/gaytherapy

Does therapy involving immersing yourself completely, filling every waking moment and thought with religious doctrine or another school of thinking in order to cure or change?

This seems more like denial, repression and a replacement approach.

Shouldn't successful conversion free one to lead a life that doesn't involve constant therapy and thought "alteration"?

A stream will flow its natural course. A huge and constant effort is needed to change its flow. Once that effort is neglected it changes back to its natural course. That's the analogy I'd draw when I read how present conversion therapies work.

C) Hear Outcomes From All Sides
The credibility of any therapy or group that is afraid of presenting all the facts and all perspectives should be seriously questioned.

What are the outcomes from all sides; successful, failed, those who've discontinued "conversion"?
What impact has this therapy had on actual people's lives?
What is documented by medical professionals?
What impact have those who've discontinued "conversion" had on other people in their lives?

Truth should not need to hide. Half-truths are a different matter.

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To conclude, I share this document for those who wish to find out more;
Sexual orientation conversion therapy for gay men and lesbians: A scientific examination
http://www.drdoughaldeman.com/doc/ScientificExamination.pdf