Currently, 14 U.S. states have legal bans against so-called ex-gay or conversion therapy, but the “blue wave” of Democratic wins during the mid-term elections could increase that number by four or more.
According to Into More, Colorado, New York, Maine and Massachusetts could all enact bans within the next year, as Democrats will fully control the governorship and legislative branches in three of the states.
In New York, Democrats won 35 of the state’s 63 Senate seats, allowing them to end a longstanding block of Republicans and “blue dog” Democrats who’ve killed all pro-LGBTQ legislation since 2011. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a largely symbolic executive order opposing conversion therapy in February 2016, so he’s likely to sign a full legislative ban once it reaches his desk.
In Colorado, Democrats won 19 of the state senate’s 35 seats, ending the Republican block that killed a conversion therapy ban just last April. Its newly elected gay governor, Jared Polis, would likely sign a ban.
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Related: Facebook put conversion therapy ads in young gay users’ feeds
In Maine, the newly elected Democrat governor, Janet Mills, criticized the state’s former governor, Republican Paul LePage, when he vetoed a conversion therapy bill last July. At the time, Mills stated, “Governor LePage should have signed this bill, but where he failed, I will not.”
And though Massachusetts elected a Republican governor, Democrats will control its House and Senate, allowing them to re-attempt a ban that narrowly failed in 2018. Let’s see if the governor signs it.
Most Americans support conversion therapy bans
More Americans have become aware of conversion therapy thanks to two recent films — The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Boy Erased. Both movies depict young gay people forced into religious ex-gay programs.
Every major American psychological association calls these programs harmful and ineffective. A 2013 survey found that 84% of ex-gay survivors felt lasting shame and emotional harm as a result of undergoing conversion therapy.
Religious conservatives have tried to defend ex-gay therapy by calling it a form of “free speech” and “religious freedom.” But polling shows a majority of American oppose conversion therapy. The U.S. Supreme Court has also refused to hear cases challenging such bans as unconstitutional.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I can’t sugar coat it, I fcuking hate vile, reprehensive, abhorant, noxious, smcubag “religious” conservatives……
o.codone
This post is a violation of the comments policy.
GayEGO
I believe our Republican governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, will sign the bill as he has a gay brother who is married to another guy. He also signed a transgender bill to protect them and he won as our governor again and this bill won by 61% in our election.
o.codone
Government has no business legislating healthcare. They have no right to ban any kind of treatment a patient wants. I want the government out of my Doctor’s office. That said, please don’t argue with me about the politics of conversion therapy and about whether it’s a valid “treatment” or not. Just stick to the topic, which is, do you want the government legislating what treatments your physician is allowed to provide?
Daniel Villarreal
You’re goddamn right I do. I don’t want a doctor to try magic prayers or needless surgeries to cure a cold. I don’t want surgeons and doctors to just be able to say “Well, I did what I thought was best,” when there is concrete proof that certain therapies and procedures cause serious harm. Conversion therapy is the same way. Every major psychological association says it causes serious mental harm. So do I want the government to say therapists can’t use it, the same way that cosmetic surgeons are banned from injecting liquid silicone into the body? Yes, because both are deadly and neither one is necessary.