House Votes to Ban Conversion Therapy

Marks a major step forward for LGBTQ equality in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has been a leader at the forefront of LGBTQ equality. We’ve successfully upheld marriage equality and ensured protection from discrimination in public accommodations for transgender individuals. Today, the House wrote another chapter in this story by voting to ban the harmful practice of “conversion therapy” for minors.

The idea of conversion therapy is that there is “something wrong” with being LGBTQ, and that a licensed medical professional can eliminate those feelings through practices like hypnosis, aversive conditioning, or inducing nausea.

The reality of the matter is that it has been proven ineffective, is contrary to medical research, and subjects young people to the risk of suicide and other serious psychological harms.

Our legislation addresses this issue by prohibiting health care providers from advertising for or engaging in sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts for patients under the age of 18.

It is disturbing that discrimination and hatred toward the LGBTQ community persist in our Commonwealth. The most recent available data shows that LGBTQ students in Massachusetts are twice as likely to experience bullying in school as are their non-LGBTQ peers, and 41% of LGBTQ youth in MA have seriously considered suicide in the past year, compared to 11% of their heterosexual, cisgender classmates. In addition, LGBTQ youth are more likely than their peers to experience bullying or physical violence at school and are over three times as likely to have skipped school because of feeling unsafe.

We should validate our youth for who they are, and not try to shame them by subjecting them to harmful therapies and antiquated social norms. Our legislation today is a major step toward changing the practice that being LGBTQ is something that needs to be changed. It is an affirmation of our youth to be proud of who they are.