In 2015, Massachusetts Rep. Kay Khan sponsored a bill to ban conversion therapy for minors in the state. Conversion therapy, also called ex-gay therapy, is a practice that aims to counsel patients into switching their sexual or gender orientation.
Unfortunately, the bill did not move forward. Currently, only four states and Washington, D.C. ban the practice, and in early 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to ban it in his state.
The American Psychological Association discredits conversion therapy. Regardless of one's views on LGBT orientations, the therapy is not effective and has been proven to be counterproductive. There is no reason to allow children to go through a program that is linked to suicidal ideation, social isolation, substance abuse, depression and other unhealthy ideas and behaviors. According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, people who go through conversion therapy are eight times more likely to commit suicide than others in the LGBT community.
Please sign the petition to urge Massachusetts legislators to move forward with banning LGBT conversion therapy in their state!
In 2015, Massachusetts Rep. Kay Khan sponsored a bill to ban conversion therapy for minors in your state. Conversion therapy, also called ex-gay therapy, is a practice that aims to counsel patients into switching their sexual or gender orientation.
Unfortunately, the bill did not move forward. Currently, only four states and Washington, D.C. ban the practice, and in early 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to ban it in his state.
The American Psychological Association discredits conversion therapy. Regardless of one's views on LGBT orientations, the therapy is not effective and has been proven to be counterproductive. There is no reason to allow children to go through a program that is linked to suicidal ideation, social isolation, substance abuse, depression and other unhealthy ideas and behaviors. According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, people who go through conversion therapy are eight times more likely to commit suicide than others in the LGBT community.
I respectfully urge you to move forward with banning LGBT conversion therapy in your state. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
