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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 20, 2013 11:27 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brian Sims and Rep. Gerald J. Mullery |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Prohibition of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts in Mental Health Treatment Act |
| In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that prohibits mental health providers from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 years of age. Sexual orientation conversion therapy refers to counseling and psychotherapy attempting to eliminate or suppress homosexuality. In 1973, the American Psychological Association (APA) excluded homosexuality from being classified as a mental disorder. Despite declarations from major medical, health, and mental health organizations supporting the APA’s position on homosexuality, many make efforts to attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation through psychotherapy. According to studies published by the American Psychological Association, patients less than 18 years of age suffer from a multitude of harmful effects associated with conversion therapy including withdrawal and suicidal thoughts. On August 19, 2013, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a billing banning conversion therapy citing “a litany of potential ill effects of trying to change sexual orientation, including depression and suicide.” In 2012, California passed a similar law outlawing therapists from offering sexual orientation change services for minors. However, on December 21, 2012, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals halted the January 1, 2013 effective date. We believe it is time that Pennsylvania joins California and New Jersey in prohibiting mental health providers from engaging in sexual orientation efforts including conversion therapy. Accordingly, we will be introducing the “The Prohibition of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts in Mental Health Treatment Act.” As its name indicates, our bill will prohibit mental health providers from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with patients under 18 years of age. Scholars are skeptical of the practice of conversion and reparative therapy as they believe it is a social phenomenon that ultimately harms the individual. Moreover, studies have concluded that there is insufficient evidence that sexual orientation change efforts are effective for changing sexual orientation, and that such efforts could result in damaging long-term effects for minors. Therefore, like any other harmful act that is prohibited by Pennsylvania law, we must protect Pennsylvania’s youth from sexual orientation change efforts. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation. If you are interested in co-sponsoring this bill, please contact Mason Lane in Rep. Sims' office at 717-787-5741, or mlane@pahouse.net. |
Introduced as HB1811