Access Denied : reported that Mental Health Experts Urge Senate to Ban Conversion Therapy

Under pending legislation, any licensed mental health practitioner who performs conversion therapy could be cited for unprofessional conduct. Andrew Cuomo last year barred insurance coverage for the therapy for minors and prohibited state mental health facilities from offering it. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's mental health leaders are uniting to condemn psychological treatments designed to alter the sexual orientation of a minor. The New York State Psychiatric Association, the New York State Psychological Association and National Association of Social Workers' New York chapters on Tuesday urged lawmakers to outlaw conversion therapy, in which a counselor or psychologist attempts to change a minor's sexuality. Similar bills have passed the Assembly for several years but have been blocked by the Republican-led Senate.

Senate Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy Nationwide

Democratic lawmakers reintroduced a bill on Tuesday that would ban conversion Therapy nationwide, a controversial practice that seeks to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. "So-called 'conversion therapy' isn't therapy at all," Sen. Booker said in a statement. When asked whether the GOP supports "conversion therapy," he told the AP, "It's not in the platform." Related: LGBTQ Activist Fights to End Conversion TherapyBefore President Donald Trump took office, delegates at the Republican National Convention endorsed language in the official Party platform that seemed to support conversion therapy. Alex Wong / Getty ImagesIn a released statement, Sen. Murray cited fresh fears under the Trump administration as a reason for reintroducing the legislation.

Senator Patty Murray Is Trying to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy Nationwide

Senator Patty Murray Is Trying to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy NationwideThe Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would classify "pray the gay away" therapy as fraud. Kelly ONine months after Seattle became the third American city to ban conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth, US Senator Patty Murray (WA) will reintroduce a bill in Congress to ban the widely debunked, harmful practice nationwide. Today, Murray and 23 other Democrats will reintroduce the bill, which has taken on new urgency because of the Trump administration, Murray said in a statement. On a state level, trans rights activists are fighting a similar attempt to roll back human rights protections for transgender students. Eight years ago, the American Psychological Association conducted a review of conversion therapy "treatments"—which stem from the belief that being gay is a sin or a disorder—and concluded that they are unlikely to work and could damage the very people conversion therapy claims to help.


collected by :Lucy William

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