Several states have taken steps to protect minors against conversion therapy. But what happens with conversion therapy practices once a person becomes 18? Well, you're an adult right? And you will have choices of your own to make about your own life. But what if you are still under the guardianship of another at and after the age of 18? What if someone else has the legal right and responsibility to make choices for you?
On January 16th, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a bill calling for banning licensed mental health practitioners from conducting conversion therapy on adults who are under the care of a conservator or guardian. The bill was approved unanimously by the City Council last month. The Conversion Therapy for Consumers Under a Conservatorship or Guardianship Amendment Act of 2018, would be the first of its type in the country, pushing conversion therapy protections to include and go beyond 18 years of age.
Some news sites are saying that the bill is now law, but the WashingtonBlade.com in their Bowser signs conversion therapy ban for adults with disabilities is saying that:
Following the mayor’s signature the bill was to be sent to Capitol Hill where under the city’s Home Rule Charter it must undergo a 30 legislative day review by Congress. If Congress takes no action the bill become law.
Let's cross our fingers that Congress does what they do best, no action, and D.C. can get its desired law.
Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBT youth told the WashingtonBlade.com that“Nobody should be subjected to the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy.”
Washington D.C. is moving in the right direction when it comes to LGBT protection and equality. In our post DC Group Ratifies Three Pro-LGBTQ Measures, we mentioned the conversion therapy ban above as well as the DC Council voted twelve to zero to confirm DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's nominee, gay activist Peter Rosenstein to the D.C. Office of Employee Appeals and passed "Sense of the Council" which will provide support for transgender people.
There are a total of 15 states have done the right thing and banned conversion therapy.
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, And Washington.
There are 14 states that have proposals for similar conversion ban laws to be considered.
Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
New York City is the only other place in the United States that bans conversion therapy for adults, but NYC bans it for all adults, not just those with guardians. The NYC Law simply states:
This bill would prohibit any person from charging consumers for services intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.