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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 28, 2019 03:25 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brian Sims and Rep. Gerald J. Mullery |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Protection of Minors from Conversion Therapy Act |
| Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. The practice of conversion therapy is strongly opposed by the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, Pan American Health Organization, and the World Psychiatric Association. In an effort to prevent further harm to LGBT youth, 14 states and the District of Columbia have banned health care professionals from using this treatment on minors. It is crucial that Pennsylvania join the many other states that have taken action to protect the physical and psychological well-being of LGBT minors. Our bill, the Protection of Minors from Conversion Therapy Act, seeks to address harms associated with conversion therapy by prohibiting a mental health professional from engaging in this treatment with an individual under 18 years of age. Please join us in protecting Pennsylvania’s youth from this incredibly harmful and widely discredited practice. |
Introduced as HB1293