California could become first US state to ban conversion therapy for both minors and adults

Openly gay representative Evan Low is taking a unique approach to banning conversion therapy for good in the state of California. He is aiming to get the practice discredited under California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act. His bill, AB 2943, cites “overwhelming empirical evidence” that conversion therapy is ineffective and damaging.

Equality California director Rick Zbur agrees: “We don’t let convenience stores sell fake lottery tickets… and we shouldn’t let a handful of sham therapists tell Californians that they can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They can’t. And this so-called ’therapy’ causes damaging psychological harm.”

This comes as more states in the US take measures to ban the harmful practice. Recently Maryland became the eleventh state to do so.

Tim Gibson - myGwork