Senator Hoylman Says White House Support of Ban on Lgbt “Conversion Therapy” Will Provide New Impetus for State Legislation

Hoylman: “New Yorkers should know where their senators stand on this important issue”

NEW YORK – State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), who introduced S.0121 with cosponsor State Senator Michael Gianaris to ban "conversion therapy" in New York State, said: “I’m hopeful that the White House’s support of legislation to ban state-licensed ‘conversion therapy’ on LGBT youth will provide us in New York a renewed impetus to bring this bill to the Senate floor this year.

“The State Senate leadership needs to come to terms with the fact that this disgraceful practice is nothing but child abuse and consumer fraud. The well-being of LGBT kids like Leelah Alcorn, who President Obama mentioned, is being endangered because kids have been led to believe by therapists that they’re sick and need to be cured. Plus, well-meaning parents across New York and the entire country are being cheated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for therapy that won’t work.

“With all leading medical and mental health professional organizations, the vast majority of public opinion, and now the President of the United States in favor of banning licensed ‘conversion therapy’ on minors, there’s no excuse for the New York State Senate not to move this bill to the floor for a vote. New Yorkers should know where their senators stand on this important issue.”

Assembly Member Deborah Glick has also introduced A.4958 in the New York State Assembly to ban “conversion therapy.”

• Background: Obama to Call for End to ‘Conversion’ Therapies for Gay and Transgender Youth (New York Times)