Massachusetts took an important step closer this week to becoming the 15th state in the country to ban conversion therapy on minors.
On Wednesday, the Bay State’s house of representatives voted 137–14 to pass H.4664, “An Act relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors,” a.k.a. the bill to ban conversion therapy.
In a statement released Thursday, Deborah Shields, executive director of MassEquality, the LGBTQ advocacy group, which is working hard to move the legislation forward, said:
Yesterday’s House vote to ban the dangerous and fraudulent practice of conversion therapy from being used on our youth is an important step in protecting all children in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts has an established history of standing up for fairness and equality and of protecting and supporting LGBTQ youth. MassEquality urges the Senate to vote on and pass S.62, their version of this bill, as soon as possible to protect the Commonwealth’s young people from this harmful and discredited practice.
We thank the House for doing right thing yesterday and passing this bill. We especially want to thank Rep. Kay Khan for her continued leadership on the bill, as well as the Reps. who spoke so eloquently in favor of the bill on the House floor, including Rep. Jack Lewis, Rep. Sarah Peake and Rep. Sheila Harrington.
