• Born Perfect

Presidential Order Addresses the Deadly Harm  of Conversion Therapy

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Biden issued a historic and sweeping executive order aimed at addressing multiple facets of discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans. The order, timed to coincide with Pride Month, addresses the wave of anti-LGBTQI+ bills being introduced and passed in dozens of states across the country this year, as well as the mental and physical health of  LGBTQI+ youth. It also announces a new initiative to protect LGBTQI+ foster youth and prevent homelessness, and – for the first time ever – blocks federal funding for the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. 

“Especially in the midst of some of the most vicious attacks our community has ever faced, we are grateful to the President and this administration for embracing LGBTQI+ people and our families as full-fledged members of this nation who deserve equal consideration, protections, resources, and support,” said Imani Rupert-Gordon, NCLR Executive Director. “This Executive Order is unprecedented in its recognition of the broad scope of issues that affect LGBTQI+ individuals from youth to old age. We are particularly grateful for the emphasis on LGBTQI+ youth and the need to ensure that they receive the love and support that all children need to thrive.”

“As a survivor of conversion therapy, I am grateful for President Biden’s action,” said Mathew Shurka, co-founder and chief strategist of Born Perfect, an initiative that has led efforts to protect youth from conversion therapy since 2012. “My own family was deeply harmed by this fraudulent practice, which has destroyed countless other families and lives. President Biden’s pledge to stop this deadly abuse gives me enormous hope for the future.”

xxx

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. www.nclrights.org

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 LGBTQ children and young people, fighting in courtrooms to ensure their safety, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by these dangerous practices. Since its founding, Born Perfect has passed laws banning conversion therapy in 20 states and more than 100 localities, successfully defended these laws against five federal court challenges and represented conversion therapy survivors in consumer fraud cases. www.bornperfect.org