Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a bill banning therapists from trying to change a young person's sexuality.
The Republican approved the "gay conversion therapy" ban Thursday. His office didn't immediately offer a statement.
The measure keeps therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person younger than 18. Providers who don't comply could face disciplinary action.
Supporters of the measure have argued conversion therapy has been discredited and can be harmful to young people. But opponents have questioned whether therapists would be punished unfairly and say a ban limits parents' treatment decisions.
Similar legislation has been enacted in California and New Jersey. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama conveyed his support for such bans.
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By all means lets not support something to help people trapped in a destructive lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteWhen the brain doesn't agree with the anatomy, it is a mental issue.
ReplyDeleteWe don't trust 16 yr olds to know if they WANT to feel trapped in the wrong body but we trust them to drive???
ReplyDeleteThe stats are not good for success of the therapies.
ReplyDeleteThese treatments don't work and are nothing but a sham and hurt these children immensely.
ReplyDeleteThis is a step in the right direction to put these people out of business.
11:36 I agree. If it's just "youthful experimentation", they'll grow out of it anyway, once their self-perception is more developed. Nobody was ever talked into being gay who wasn't 'on the fence" to begin with, and nobody can talk anyone out of it.
ReplyDeleteEither you're sexually attracted to someone, (or something) or you are not.
I can understand if it's to help kids understand and sort out their feelings about their gender identity, but not in a manner than pushes them in one gender direction or another.
So called "gay conversion" programs are notoriously ineffective, and do nothing but harm the person's self esteem. It must be hard enough to be gay as it is, without loading them with guilt as well.
gay conversion has helped many people go on to live normal lives banning this is barbaric.
ReplyDeleteIf adults choose this quackery that is their choice, this just protects children from this abuse.
ReplyDelete