***NEWS
RELEASE***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2016
Vermont Becomes Fifth State to Ban Therapy for Minors, Despite Many Other States Rejecting Bills
#TherapyEquality campaign points out that many more states are rejecting harmful bills to take away therapy rights, including New Hamphire, Hawaii, and Colorado
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Last week, Vermont Governor Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law S. 162, which effectively bans minors from receiving counseling or therapy from licensed mental health practitioners who would assist them in healing underlying issues that cause unwanted same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion.
Christopher Doyle is a licensed
professional counselor, leader in the #TherapyEquality
campaign of Equality And Justice For All (www.equalityandjusticeforall.org)
and co-coordinator of the National Task Force for Therapy Equality. He said the following:
“Governor Shumlin should be ashamed of himself for listening to gay activists who are taking away the therapy rights of minors that are sexually confused and abused and voluntarily seek help. Especially troubling was that a single practitioner who actually works with youth who experience these conflicts could not be identified in the state, so Vermont essentially solved a 'problem' that didn't exist. It just goes to show you that gay activists are more interested in cheap political victories than finding loving solutions for all."
Despite Vermont's decision, last week the New Hampshire legislature killed a similar bill in their
state, joining at least eight other states in 2016 that have either
rejected or passed on bills to ban therapy for minors. Those states
include Colorado, Hawaii, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, and New York. Doyle continued:
"The reality is that the vast majority of states, when they are willing to hear and consider the real facts about therapy equality, choose to keep options open for minors and their families. We applaud the nine states that have kept these options open in 2016, joining at least fifteen states in 2014 and 2015 that have done the same. Everyone should have the right to resolve unwanted attractions, desires, and unmet love needs. If a young person wishes to pursue licensed counseling for help, who are we to stop them?"
Five states plus Washington, D.C., and
the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, currently ban Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
(SOCE) therapy or licensed counseling to help minors with unwanted same-sex
attractions and/or gender identity confusion. Earlier this year, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced
regulations that will prohibit health care insurers in the state from covering
such therapies for minors.
#TherapyEquality exists to end these bans on the state level and is working toward therapy equality on the federal and national level. For more information on Equality
And Justice For All, visit www.EqualityAndJusticeForAll.org.
###
Equality And Justice For All is the only civil rights
organization that works to further the general welfare of the ex-gay community
by promoting fair and equitable laws and policies protecting their rights. By
furthering individual self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals,
the organization strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual
orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families can be
open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society.
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