Act as LGBTQ ) youth are overrepresented in the foster care system by at least a factor of 2, comprising at least 22 to 30 percent of children and youth in foster care. (A) While some LGBTQ youth enter foster care for similar reasons as non-LGBTQ youth, the 2 most common reasons for LGBTQ youth are high rates of physical abuse and conflict with parents. (B) LGBTQ foster youth report twice the rate of poor treatment while in care experienced by foster youth who do not identify as LGBTQ and are more likely to experience discrimination, harassment, and violence in the child welfare system than their LGBTQ peers not in the child welfare system. (C) Because of high levels of bias, LGBTQ foster youth have a higher average number of placements and higher likelihood of living in a group home than their non-LGBTQ peers, negatively affecting mental health outcomes and long-term prospects. (D) Approximately 60 percent of homeless LGBTQ youth were previously in foster care, and many reported that living on the streets felt safer than living in a group or foster home. (6) Conversion therapy is a form of discrimination that harms LGBTQ people. It undermines an individual’s sense of self-worth, increases suicide ideation and substance abuse, exacerbates family conflict, and contributes to second-class status. No scientifically valid evidence supports this discredited practice, which is prohibited by many States and foreign nations. Approximately 350,000 LGBTQ adults were subjected to so-called conversion therapy as adolescents, and an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 17 will be subjected to it by a licensed health care professional before age 18. (7) Many youth, especially LGBTQ youth, involved with child welfare services identify with a cross-section of marginalized communities. Youth of color are overrepresented in the foster care system, and the majority of LGBTQ foster youth are youth of color. Children and youth with multiple mar­gin­a­lized identities often experience more stress and trauma than other youth,