Maine Bans Barbaric Conversion Therapy on LGBTQ Youth

AUGUSTA, MAINE — (05-30-19) — Maine has banned the barbaric practice of conversion therapy on Wednesday, making it the 17th state along with the District of Columbia, to ban the practice on LGBTQ youth.

On Wednesday Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed the conversion ban bill and tweeted…“Today I signed into law a bill banning conversion therapy, a widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine,” tweeted Mills. The governor continued…“Today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are,” tweeted Gov. Mills.

Today I signed into law a bill banning conversion therapy, a widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine. Today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are. pic.twitter.com/heInzibvFJ

— Governor Janet Mills (@GovJanetMills) May 29, 2019

Maine joins 17 states and the district of Columbia in outlawing conversion therapy upon our LGBTQ youth and this reporter can’t wait until it is banned in all 50 states.

The barbaric practice of conversion therapy claims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity with mental torture tactics. Under the new law, professionals, including school psychologists, pharmacy technicians and social workers, who have advertised, offered or administered conversion therapy to a child, could now face discipline from licensing boards.

Maine joins 6 other states and the District of Columbia banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors

Prior to Maine outlawing conversion therapy today, last week Massachusetts signed their own conversion therapy ban, taking the total of states to 17 plus the district of Columbia that have outlawed the practice.

Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project director for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders said..“With this law, Maine is taking seriously its responsibility to ensure youth and parents who seek support are not subjected to fraudulent and dangerous practices under the guise of therapy.

Republicans are pushing their horse shit by claiming that conversion therapy ban bill was unnecessary. Claiming that it would prevent parents from seeking religious counselors for their children. “There have not been any recorded cases of this happening in Maine,” said state House Republicans spokesman John Bott.

Republicans failed to pass an amendment to exclude talk therapy and counseling from counting as conversion therapy but luckily Democrats weren’t falling for their tricks.

The state of Maine’s new law exempts treatment which offers acceptance, support and understanding to children while staying neutral on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer