Several state legislatures are debating bans on so-called “ex-gay” therapy. Some are actually even passing.
California was the first state to ban the practice of “reparative,” “conversion,” or “ex-gay” therapy for minors. That was followed by New Jersey, and then Washington D.C., despite outcry from Republicans in Congress. The D.C. bill just officially became law this week.
Sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) have been deemed not only ineffective, but harmful and potentially dangerous by many national and international major medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association, among others.
Now, state lawmakers are getting the message.
On Tuesday the Iowa Senate passed a bill banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors, by a narrow, straight party-line vote: 26-24. That bill does not include gender identity, leaving out transgender youth. Sadly, the Des Moines Register reports that the “bill now heads to the Republican-controlled House, where it will likely be declared dead amid strong opposition from Christian conservatives.”Â
Also yesterday, the Illinois House Juvenile Justice and System Involved Youth Committee passed a conversion therapy for minors ban in a 9-5 vote. The Illinois Senate has a similar bill.
The Oregon House, also yesterday, passed HB 2307, a bill banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, on a strong 41-18 vote. That bill now heads to the Senate.
And last Friday, the Colorado House also passed a ban on conversion therapy for minors. That bill now moves the the GOP-led Senate.
Meanwhile, in Texas last week, Democratic Rep. Celia Israel filed HB 3495, a bill to ban ex-gay therapy as well.Â
Federal courts have upheld these bans, and one New Jersey court ruled, for the first time ever, that “ex-gay” therapy is “fraud.”
Earlier this month, Psychology Today announced it was removing its classified listings of therapist who practice the harmful therapy.
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Image by Daniel Gonzales via Flickr and a CC license
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