LGBTQ conversion therapy for minors banned in Michigan

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation on Wednesday officially banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors in the state.

Conversion therapy, a scientifically discredited practice, attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity to align with traditional heterosexuality or gender norms.

With this new law, Michigan becomes the 22nd state to prohibit the practice, which has been linked in studies to increased risks of suicide and depression.

Gov. Whitmer, whose daughter, Sherry, identifies as lesbian, called conversion therapy an “horrific practice,” and expressed her desire for Michigan to become a state “where you can be who you are.”

In 2021, Whitmer signed an executive directive that prohibited the use of state and federal funds for conversion therapy.

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Although LGBTQ rights advocates have condemned the practice for decades, in 2022, approximately 15% of LGBTQ+ minors in Michigan reported facing threats of or being subjected to conversion therapy within the previous year, according to The Trevor Project.

The Michigan Senate approved the ban last month in a 21-15 vote, with one Republican joining Democrats in supporting the legislation, following its approval by the state House.

Opponents from the Republican side expressed concerns that the work of mental health professionals might be impaired with the new law.

Democrats in Michigan have prioritized protecting LGBTQ+ rights since gaining control of the state government in 2022, and, earlier this year, permanently outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Similar bans on conversion therapy have been enacted in other states, such as Minnesota and Arizona, as part of efforts to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from harmful practices.

In May, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community in response to a rise in discriminatory legislation across state legislatures. It marked the first such declaration in the 43-year history of the organization.

With News Wire Services