(San Francisco, CA, January 20, 2015)—Today, Virginia Delegate Patrick Hope and Senator Louise Lucas introduced a bill protecting children and their families from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy, joining a growing number of states and jurisdictions to consider and pass legislation to put an end to the discredited practice.
The bill reflects the unanimous view of medical, mental health, and child welfare experts that attempts to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are ineffective and unsafe, putting youth at risk of severe long-term health impacts, including depression, substance abuse, and even suicide.
“Today, more than ever, it is clear that state legislatures need to step up to the plate to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practices of conversion therapy,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Staff Attorney and #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator Sam Ames. “We commend Delegate Hope and Senator Lucas, as well all the local organizers who have worked tirelessly to get this bill introduced and ensure all Virginian children are able to grow up in communities and families where they are loved for exactly who they are.”
California, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. have already enacted similar laws, and more than a dozen states have introduced similar legislation. Both the Ninth and Third Circuits have rejected attempts by anti-LGBTQ organizations to challenge the California and New Jersey laws, holding that they are valid exercises of states’ authority to protect public health and safety.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights has been at the forefront of the effort to protect youth and their families from these dangerous practices for two decades and helped pass legislation in California, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. In 2014, NCLR launched its #BornPerfect campaign to end conversion therapy over the next five years by passing legislation to protect youth from these ineffective and harmful practices, fighting in courtrooms to defend laws, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by attempts to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
NCLR and the Human Rights Campaign, are partnering with Equality Virginia and local advocates to support the Virginia bill.
Learn more about #BornPerfect at www.NCLRights.org/BornPerfect.
