Long-Awaited Conversion Therapy Ban Moves Towards Passage

Conversion therapy is illegal in 14 states and the District of Columbia

NEW YORK- Senator Brad Hoylman (D/WF-Manhattan), the only openly LGBTQ member of the New York State Senate, released the following statement praising the passage of his legislation to ban so-called conversion therapy (S1046/A746) through the Higher Education Committee:

Senator Hoylman said: “So-called conversion therapy is child abuse—plain and simple. I applaud Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Higher Education Chairwoman Stavisky, co-prime sponsor Gianaris and my colleagues in the Democratic Conference for recognizing that being gay is not an illness, and that this debunked and harmful practice amounts to nothing less than consumer fraud. To the LGBTQ youth across the state of New York: we hear you, we see you, and we have your back on the Senate floor tomorrow.”

The legislation would prohibit mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with patients under the age of 18. Conversion therapy is currently illegal in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

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