The relationship between LSD and LGBTQ communities is both complex and deeply intertwined with the history of modern psychiatry. During the mid-20th century, some researchers and clinicians believed psychedelics could be used to “treat” or even change a person’s sexual orientation, leading to unethical experiments that reflected the prejudices of the era rather than sound scientific evidence. Today, however, research and personal accounts point to a very different conclusion: rather than altering sexual orientation or gender identity, psychedelic experiences often help LGBTQ individuals process trauma, overcome internalized stigma, and develop greater self-acceptance. This article explores the history of LSD in LGBTQ communities, from its misuse in conversion therapy to its emerging role in LGBTQ-affirming mental health and healing.

The Early History of LSD and Attempts to “Treat” Homosexuality

The Psychiatry of the 1950s and 1960s

To understand the relationship between LSD and LGBTQ communities, it is important to examine the social and medical climate in which psychedelic research first emerged. Throughout much of the twentieth century, homosexuality was widely classified as a mental illness by psychiatric institutions in North America and Europe. The prevailing belief among many psychiatrists was that same-sex attraction represented a psychological disorder that could—and should—be treated. It was not until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and similar changes in Canada followed as medical understanding evolved.

The 1950s and 1960s also marked the birth of modern psychedelic psychiatry. Researchers began investigating LSD as a potential treatment for alcoholism, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. Because LSD frequently produced profound alterations in perception, emotion, and self-awareness, some psychiatrists theorized that it could also facilitate dramatic changes in personality, beliefs, and behavior. At the time, relatively little was understood about the neurobiology of psychedelics, and many researchers held overly optimistic views about the extent to which these substances could reshape the human mind.

Among the most recognizable figures associated with LSD is psychologist Timothy Leary, whose advocacy helped popularize psychedelics during the 1960s. His views on sexuality received widespread attention in a 1966 Playboy interview, where he asserted that LSD could serve as “a specific cure for homosexuality” and recounted anecdotal stories of individuals whose sexual behavior he believed had changed following psychedelic experiences. 

Hollywood Hospital in British Columbia and Canada’s Role in Psychedelic Research

Canada played a significant role in the early development of psychedelic psychiatry, with one of its most influential institutions located in New Westminster, British Columbia. Founded in 1949, Hollywood Hospital became internationally recognized for its innovative approaches to treating alcoholism and mental illness. During the 1950s and 1960s, it emerged as one of the world’s leading centers for LSD-assisted psychotherapy.

According to research by Dr. Andrea Ens, twelve same-sex attracted men sought out treatment at the hospital in an attempt to conform to the prevailing heterosexual ideals of the day. While some of these patients claimed to have become heterosexual after their psychedelic experience, today we recognize these interventions were based on the false assumptions about homosexuality and the prevailing homophobic attitudes of the day.

Why Psychedelics Don’t “Convert” Sexual Orientation

Modern Research Says the Opposite

Modern psychedelic research has reached a conclusion that stands in stark contrast to the assumptions held by some early psychiatrists: psychedelics do not change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Rather than fundamentally altering who someone is, substances such as LSD appear to temporarily reduce rigid patterns of thinking, lower psychological defenses, and increase openness to thoughts and emotions that may have previously been suppressed. Researchers believe this heightened state of psychological flexibility allows individuals to examine deeply held beliefs, process difficult experiences, and gain new perspectives on themselves. Importantly, there is no credible scientific evidence demonstrating that LSD or any other psychedelic can convert a heterosexual person into a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person—or vice versa. Instead, contemporary studies consistently suggest that psychedelic experiences tend to reveal and clarify existing aspects of identity rather than replace them.

Identity Affirmation Instead of Identity Change

Qualitative research and first-person accounts increasingly suggest that many LGBTQ individuals experience psychedelics as tools for self-discovery rather than transformation. Instead of emerging from psychedelic experiences with a different sexual orientation or gender identity, many participants report becoming more comfortable with identities they had long struggled to accept. Common themes include greater acceptance of one’s sexuality or gender identity, reduced feelings of shame and internalized stigma, increased self-love, and a renewed sense of authenticity. Interviews with LGBTQ participants frequently describe psychedelic experiences as moments of profound personal insight that helped them disentangle their own identities from years of societal prejudice, family expectations, or religious condemnation. These narratives reinforce the growing consensus that psychedelics are not agents of identity change but may facilitate identity affirmation by helping individuals reconnect with who they already are.

Why LSD Use Is Higher Among LGBTQ Individuals

National Survey Findings

Population-level research has consistently found that LSD use is more common among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals than among heterosexual individuals, although the reasons for this difference are likely complex. One large epidemiological study analyzing U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data found that LGB individuals comprised approximately 5% of the study population. Between 2015 and 2019, past-year LSD use increased by 43% among heterosexual respondents, 58% among bisexual respondents, and 106% among lesbian and gay respondents. Across the study period, LGB individuals were between 3.3 and 4.4 times more likely to report past-year LSD use than their heterosexual counterparts. 

While these findings demonstrate a clear association, they do not establish that being LGBTQ causes higher LSD use or vice versa. Rather, researchers suggest that several overlapping factors may contribute to this pattern, including greater openness to exploring altered states of consciousness, a search for healing from trauma or minority stress, cultural norms within certain LGBTQ communities, and higher rates of mental health challenges resulting from discrimination and social stigma. Further research is needed to better understand these relationships and to distinguish recreational, spiritual, and therapeutic motivations for psychedelic use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The relationship between LSD and LGBTQ communities reflects both one of psychiatry’s darker chapters and one of its most promising areas of contemporary research. During the mid-twentieth century, psychedelics were sometimes misused in misguided attempts to change sexual orientation through conversion therapy, efforts that were rooted in prejudice rather than scientific evidence and ultimately proved ineffective. Modern research has reached the opposite conclusion: psychedelics do not appear to change sexual orientation or gender identity, but they may help individuals process trauma, reduce internalized stigma, increase self-compassion, and affirm who they already are.

Although these findings are encouraging, much remains to be learned about its long-term effects and its application within LGBTQ populations. Future research should prioritize rigorous scientific methods, ethical safeguards, and LGBTQ-affirming approaches to better understand how psychedelic therapies can support healing while respecting the diversity and dignity of every individual.