New York City
Mathew Shurka is a conversion therapy survivor and co-founder of Born Perfect, a campaign that has become a global movement to end conversion therapy. Mathew leads the campaign alongside a team of lawyers and other conversion therapy survivors committed to protect LGBTQ+ people through legislation, litigation and public education.
During his five years of conversion therapy from ages 16-21, Shurka endured many different types of fraudulent and scientifically discredited “treatments” that he was told would cure his homosexuality.
After seeking treatment for the trauma he endured and reconciling with his family, Shurka, at 24, began advocating to end conversion therapy with The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and worked with NCLR to create Born Perfect in 2014.
Elevating the voices of survivors and their families, educating policymakers and partnering with supportive therapists and professional organizations: The result is that 18 states and more than 60 cities have passed laws to protect LGBTQ+ youth from conversion therapy.
His influence and personal advocacy have been vital for passing legislation and bringing awareness to mainstream media to educate and help create inclusion for all people.