• Born Perfect

LANSING, MI – Today, Governor Whitmer signed a bill prohibiting licensed therapists in Michigan from subjecting minors to conversion therapy, a dangerous practice that seeks to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2021, the Governor issued an executive order barring the use of state funds for conversion therapy. The new law both codifies that directive and prohibits state-licensed therapists from subjecting minor patients to conversion therapy. 

STATEMENT BY MATHEW SHURKA, CO-FOUNDER OF BORN PERFECT: 

“We are thrilled that Michigan is taking this important step to protect LGBTQ youth, and their families from this deadly practice, which has been rejected as unethical and harmful by every leading medical and mental health organization in this country. This is a huge step forward for LGBTQ people in Michigan and sends a much-needed message of recognition and support to LGBTQ youth at a time when they are under attack in many states.”

Following Governor Hobb’s executive action in Arizona yesterday, 27 states now protect youth from this deadly practice, whether by legislation, regulations, or executive actions.

Conversion therapy has been rejected as unnecessary, ineffective, and harmful by every major medical and mental health organization in the country, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

According to The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, 15% of LGBTQ young people reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy — and those who had reported being subjected to the practice were more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year.

###

Born Perfect is a survivor-led campaign created by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) in 2014 to end conversion therapy by passing laws across the country that protect LGBT children and young people, fighting in courtrooms to ensure their safety, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by these dangerous practices. http://bornperfect.org/