Brian Sims, who recently had his own triumph over a homophobic Congressman, isn’t the only openly gay politician we want to praise. Evan Low is a democratic state assemblyman from California who’s also working hard for LGBTQ rights.
The state of California is currently in a push to tighten its laws against conversation therapy. The state already has a law banning conversion therapy on minors, and now a complete ban on the practice is well on its way.
At the head of the charge is CA Assemblyman Evan Low, who’s openly gay himself.
“This notion that we would accept as a legal practice that conversion therapy works is antithetical to my very existence in this body,” Low said.
But, of course, there is opposition to the new bill. Conservatives against the bill say that it could end up banning books and religious freedom. That said, it seems conversion therapy is a religious freedom, and not a scientific practice, only when its convenient for conservatives. So, Low and co. are pressing forward.
“You can still try to pray the gay away if you’d like, but it hasn’t proved to be effective,” said Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D). “To advertise that you can change someone’s orientation is simply that — fraudulent.”
But it looks like California isn’t the only state working towards banning conversion therapy.
According to Metro Weekly, New Hampshire’s state senate just voted 14-10 for a ban on conversion therapy for minors.
“This practice is a backward, barbaric practice aimed to scare the gay away,” said Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn (D-Whitefield) during the pre-vote debate. “We need to call it what it is.”
That said, the bill wasn’t passed without a compromise. Conservatives allowed the state bill to pass only after it was amended to allow “talk therapy or religious counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding.”
“What we’re trying to prevent is when an individual or counselor would really push somebody against their will by imposing a viewpoint,” Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) argued.
That said, the bill has been passed by the state senate and a different anti-conversion therapy bill has been passed in the state house of representatives. Once the two bills are combined and their differences are reconciled, a single bill will be sent to Governor Chis Sununu (R), who supports the bill.
This began a few years ago in
This began a few years ago in New Hampshire with Eric Schleien, and it's coming together slowly but surely.