Sunday, February 7, 2016

New York Governor Seeking To Ban Ex- Gay Therapy To Minors

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday announced new regulations aimed at ending therapies that attempt to alter the sexuality or gender identity of LGBT youth.
The governor's multi-agency regulations ban public and private health care insurers from covering so-called “conversion” therapy to individuals under the age of 18. Mental health providers overseen by the New York State Office of Mental Health will be prohibited from conducting the practice on minors.
“Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice that is counter to everything this state stands for,” Cuomo said in a pres release. “New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades – and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example. We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are.”

Renee Binder, president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), applauded the move.
“Governor Cuomo and the State of New York are commended for taking a principled and scientific stand. APA has long recognized that so-called reparative therapy is not a scientifically validated treatment and can, in fact, undermine self-esteem and be hazardous.”
In 2012, California lawmakers approved and Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill banning the practice on minors in that state. New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois and the District of Columbia have followed suit.
Similar legislation in New York has stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.

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