US: New York Senate blocks ‘gay cure’ therapy ban, trans anti-discrimination bill
The New York Senate has blocked bills which banned ‘gay cure’ therapy for minors, and protected trans people from discrimination.
The ban on therapy to ‘cure’ homosexuality in minors had already been passed by the Assembly earlier this month, but was blocked by the Senate alongside the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act.
The Senate leadership ended the legislative session without allowing the bills to go to a vote, despite support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Empire State Pride Agenda said: “The bill to protect LGBT youth from conversion efforts passed with strong bipartisan support in the Assembly.
“We had the votes lined up from both sides of the aisle in the Senate. We had widespread backing from every medical association and the general public.
“GENDA passed for the seventh time in the Assembly and has already been signed into law in 18 other states. Yet Senate leaders refused to bring both to the floor for a vote.
“There is no good reason why two bills critically important to the lives of LGBT New Yorkers did not pass in the Senate this session.
“The Senate Leadership failed us today by not bringing these life-saving bills to the floor for a vote.”
Senator Brad Hoylman said: “It’s bitterly disappointing that the State Senate bowed to partisan politics and failed to protect our kids in New York from so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ which considers homosexuality a sickness that needs to be cured.
“This bill had the votes to pass the Senate, virtually unanimous support from mental health professionals, and was modeled after legislation passed with bi-partisan support in California and New Jersey, where it was signed by Republican Governor Chris Christie.”
