Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. This therapy often consists of talk therapy, abusive physical treatments such as electric shock and induced vomiting, and emotionally abusive tactics.
 
Approximately 698,000 LGBTQ adults in the United States have reported receiving conversion therapy, including at least 350,000 LGBTQ individuals who received treatment as minors. This abusive practice correlates with depression, trauma, and suicide in patients. In an effort to prevent further harm to LGBTQ youth, major national health associations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and American Psychiatric Association, strongly oppose this therapy. While several of our health-related licensing boards have recently adopted policies that oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors by health care professionals, it is crucial that Pennsylvania join the many other states that have taken further action within their state laws to protect the physical and psychological well-being of LGBTQ minors.

For these reasons, I plan to introduce the Protection of Minors from Conversion Therapy Act to address harms associated with conversion therapy by prohibiting a mental health professional from engaging in this archaic treatment with an individual under the age of 18.

Please join me in protecting Pennsylvania’s youth from this incredibly harmful and widely discredited practice.