CT Legislature Decides Whether To Protect LGBTQ Youth From Conversion Therapy

The Connecticut House of Representatives today voted overwhelmingly to adopt legislation that will protect LGBTQ youth in the state from the controversial practice of conversion therapy.

The legislation is House Bill 6695, An Act Concerning the Protection of Youth from Conversion Therapy. It was approved in the House by a bipartisan vote of 141-8 and will next move to the State Senate for consideration.

Both Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, who consider the "so-called treatment" destructive, praised the state House vote.

"As we all know, there is no medical evidence that supports this so-called therapy and, in fact, it often has damaging effects on those individuals who undergo it, many of whom are minors who were forced into the practice by a family that has rejected who they are," said Gov. Malloy in a statement. "The framing of sexual orientation as an illness or condition requiring correction is as destructive as it is uninformed. I applaud the overwhelming, bipartisan group of legislators in the House who voted today to protect youths from this cruel practice and I urge the Senate to swiftly adopt it in concurrence so I can sign it into law."

Conversion therapy seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and has been discredited by nearly every credible medical and psychiatric group in the country, according to Malloy's office. The treatment oftentimes includes destructive practices that are harmful to children, including electric shock therapy.

"In passing this legislation, Connecticut has sent another strong message that we will protect our LGBTQ residents from discrimination in all its forms," added Lt. Gov. Wyman in a statement. "The House has done the right thing in ensuring LGBTQ youth are safe from treatment that can have profound – and lifelong – negative impacts. We are a state that celebrates all our young people – gay, straight, transgender, or questioning. I thank House leadership, and members, for taking this action today."

Click here to download Gov. Malloy’s written testimony to the legislature’s Public Health Committee supporting HB 6695

Click here to download Lt. Governor Wyman’s written testimony to the legislature’s Public Health Committee supporting HB 6695

Photo credit: jglazer75 via Wikimedia Commons