Arizona Senate bill would bar conversion therapy for LGBT youth
Jan 18, 2018, 4:15 AM
(Flickr/Ted Eytan)
(Flickr/Ted Eytan)
PHOENIX — A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate would ban health care professionals from providing conversion therapy to LGBT youth.
Senate Bill 1160, sponsored by Sen. Sean Bowie (D-Phoenix), would make it an “act of unprofessional conduct” for a psychotherapist to provide conversion therapy to minors, even if the minor is willing to undergo the therapy or if they have support from their parent or legal guardian.
Conversion therapy was defined in the bill as “any practice or treatment that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person, including a practice or treatment that seeks to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward persons of the same gender.”
If a psychotherapist were to go through with the conversion therapy, they would be subject to “disciplinary action by the appropriate health profession regulatory board.”
The bill has been read twice and was assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services and Rules committees.
If the bill were to be signed into law, Arizona would be the 10th state in the nation with these type of protections.
These types of therapies have been rejected by all major health organizations.
The American Psychiatric Association said the potential risks of conversion therapy include depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior.
