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Virginia becomes first state in the South to ban LGBTQ “conversion therapy” for minors
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill into law Monday making Virginia the first Southern state to outlaw “conversion therapy” on LGBTQ minors. The scientifically discredited practice — which aims to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender — is now illegal in 20 states. “At the Trevor Project, we hear from LGBTQ […]
“Ex-gay” minister condemns “conversion therapy” he promoted for decades
The founder of one of the nation’s largest “conversion therapy” groups has come out as gay and is apologizing for his role in popularizing the practice. So-called “conversion therapy,” which has been condemned by organizations like the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association, attempts to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. […]
Gov. Cooper issues executive order on LGBTQ “conversion therapy”
Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order Friday prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for so-called “conversion therapy.” The practice, which has been condemned by organizations like the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association, attempts to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The order “directs the North Carolina Department […]
Colorado becomes 18th state to outlaw “conversion therapy” as North Carolina’s bill goes unheard
Last week Colorado became the 18th U.S. state to outlaw so-called “conversion therapy” — a scientifically discredited practice that attempts to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado’s openly gay governor, also signed a bill that will make it easier for transgender people to get state-issued ID and other documents […]
Maine becomes 17th state to outlaw conversion therapy, NC bill not given a hearing
Maine made history Wednesday, becoming the 17th U.S. state to outlaw so-called “conversion therapy,” which attempts to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. A similar bill, the Mental Health Protection Act, was filed in the North Carolina House in March. Despite polls showing overwhelming bipartisan support for the ban, it faced stiff opposition from […]
NC behavior health professionals speak out against “conversion therapy”
More than 150 North Carolina behavioral health professionals have signed on to a letter urging lawmakers to pass the Mental Health Protection Act, outlawing so-called “conversion therapy” that attempts to cure minors of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work, which is partnering with the Born Perfect NC campaign, […]
PW exclusive: ‘Boy Erased’ author talks surviving conversion therapy in Durham
When a 19-year old Garrard Conley was sent to a “conversion therapy” program in 2004, it wasn’t something people discussed openly.
“If you were to search for it on the Internet — probably on Yahoo back then — you would have gotten all these smiling pictures and testimonials from people saying how it worked for them, how they weren’t gay now and they were happy.”
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear NJ “conversion therapy” case
Opponents of so-called “conversation therapy” are celebrating this week as the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to New Jersey’s ban on the practice. In 2013 New Jersey became the second state to ban the practice, which seeks to “cure” people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, from use on minors. Sixteen […]
This Week: Talking “conversion therapy” with the author of “Boy Erased”
If you’ve been following Policy Watch’s continuing coverage of the push to outlaw so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ youth in North Carolina, you may want to mark your calendars for an event in Durham this week. LGBTQ advocacy group Equality NC is putting on a conversation with Garrard Conley, author of the best-selling “Boy Erased: […]
Mapping “conversion therapy” laws in the U.S.
This week Massachusetts became the 16th U.S. state to pass a ban on so-called “conversion therapy,” which aims to “cure” lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. Despite polling showing overwhelming bipartisan support for such a law in North Carolina, the recently filed Mental Health Protection Act faces strong opposition from religious conservative and the GOP majority in […]
PW spotlight: The case for banning conversion therapy in North Carolina
Mitchell Gold, like many gay North Carolinians, cannot understand why there isn’t already a state law banning so-called “conversion” therapy.
Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. now ban the practice, which aims to “cure” lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people.
and polls show a law forbidding it in North Carolina enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support.
LGBTQ “conversion therapy” by the numbers
Last week a poll was released showing overwhelming bi-partisan support for outlawing so-called “conversion” therapy that attempts to “cure” young people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Still, The Mental Health Protection Act — a bill that would do just that — is expected to have a hard time getting a vote (or even a […]
Massachusetts outlaws LGBTQ “conversion” therapy
On Tuesday Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a ban on so-called “conversion” therapy meant to cure young people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Baker, a Republican, signed the bill after it overwhelmingly passed the state House and Senate earlier this month. With his signature, Massachusetts becomes the 16th state to ban the […]
Poll: Overwhelming bipartisan support for outlawing “conversion” therapy
Last week, Democratic lawmakers filed The Mental Health Protection Act – a bill that would outlaw so-called “conversion” therapy that attempts to “cure” young people of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. This week, a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by Equality NC and the Campaign for Southern Equality reveals that a supermajority of Republicans […]
Monday numbers: A closer look at the challenges faced by transgender youth and the consequences of alienating them
Last month Republicans in North Carolina joined a nationwide conservative push to file legislation targeting transgender youth. GOP lawmakers in the state House and Senate filed bills to bar transgender women from competing against other women at schools and universities, target transgender health care, force teachers and counselors to report children who exhibit “gender nonconformity,” and legally protect scientifically debunked “conversion therapy” that seeks to “cure” LGBTQ people.