RICHMOND, Va. (AP)- Virginia is outlawing the discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ children.
Conversion therapy is a practice used to try to change sexual orientation or gender identity. Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday he had signed into law that bans licensed therapists and counselors from subjecting minors to the practice. The legislation passed the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year.
Northam, a pediatric neurologist, said he was proud to sign the bill into law.
“No one should be made to feel they are not OK the way they are – especially not a child,” Northam said.
The American Psychological Association has said conversion therapy is not based in science and is harmful to mental health. Many people who have been through it say it deepened feelings of depression and increased thoughts of suicide.
The Virginia law will go into effect July 1.
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Oh, BRAVO Ralph Northam, BRAVO !!
You have come up with such a wonderful slogan, “No one should be made to feel they are not o.k. the way they are-especially children”.
What a great way to look at life and our well being Ralph.
Except of course if we are talking about an uder 18 mom who says she wants to have an abortion so Ralph wants legislation to spirit the underage mom away from their family and abort the child w/o the knowledge or permission of the family. Again I guess because we don’t want the unborn to feel badly about themselves.
Then again, if a woman ever does undergo an abortion and the child/fetus survives the abortion, Ralph wants us all to accept that the child should be set aside until it expires/dies, because Ralph wouldn’t want that child to ever feel badly about itself.
You are a disgrace Ralph Northam. A Dr. indeed…..”first do no harm, right ?”