Delaware lawmakers send bill banning conversion therapy to governor

The Delaware General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 65, legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and discredited practice known as conversion therapy.

The legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Harris McDowell and state Rep. Debra Heffernan and Gov. John Carney is expected to sign the measure into law.

Once signed, Delaware will join 13 other states and Washington, D.C. with laws or regulations protecting LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice. Municipalities also have enacted limits on "ex-gay" therapy, including Milwaukee.

For young people across Delaware, this legislation provides vital and potentially lifesaving protections from the damaging, dangerous and discredited practice known as conversion therapy, said Sarah McBride, a Delawarean and press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. While Delaware has made historic progress on LGBTQ equality, we can and must do more to protect LGBTQ youth from rejection, stigma and harm. SB 65 is a critical and significant step in that direction. We thank the Delaware General Assembly for their support of this vital legislation and we look forward to Gov. Carney signing it into law.

We thank those members of the General Assembly who voted to protect LGBTQ children against the dangerous and harmful practice of conversion therapy, and especially prime sponsors Senator Harris McDowell and Representative Debra Heffernan and their legislative aides for their leadership, said Equality Delaware s Mark Purpura.

Research has clearly shown that the practice of conversion therapy poses devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people such as depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness and even suicidal behavior.

The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland and Hawaii all have laws or regulations protecting youth from this abusive practice.

A growing number of municipalities have also enacted similar protections, including cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

In addition, lawmakers in New Hampshire recently passed similar legislation which currently awaits the governor s signature.

According to a recent report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to conversion therapy by a licensed healthcare professional if state lawmakers fail to act.