On Wednesday (09/18) Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order to ban conversion therapy on minors in Kentucky.
“Kentucky cannot possibly reach its full potential unless it is free from discrimination by or against any citizen – unless all our people feel welcome in our spaces, free from unjust barriers and supported to be themselves,” Beshear said. “Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it can cause significant long-term harm to our kids, including increased rates of suicide and depression. This is about protecting our youth from an inhumane practice that hurts them.”
Louisville banned conversion therapy in 2020, but the executive order makes it illegal to use state or federal funds to provide conversion therapy on minors. It also, according to a release from the Governor’s office, gives licensing boards the authority to take disciplinary action against licensees found to have practiced conversion therapy on minors.
Conversion therapy is counseling that tries to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ+ advocates as well as organizations like the American Medical Association say conversion therapy can cause trauma for patients and goes against the code of ethics for treatment providers.
There have been efforts in the legislature to make conversion therapy illegal statewide in recent years, but nothing has passed. Beshear said he is still hopeful they can pass that legislation in the future, but he signed this order because he said he couldn’t wait.
Source: WBKO
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