Vermont bans ‘absurd’ gay, bi and trans ‘conversion’ therapy
The US state of Vermont sent a message of hope to all LGBT people as it banned “conversion therapy” for minors.
The state’s Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill into law on Wednesday calling the practice of trying to “cure” someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity “absurd”.
With the new law, which comes into effect on 1 July, the Governor vowed that the state would stand up to discrimination.
He said: “It’s absurd to think that being gay or transgender is something to be cured of.”
Vermont is the fifth jurisdiction in the US to ban the practice of gay, bi or trans “cure” or “conversion” therapy.
California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington DC have all already enacted such laws.
Vermont is banning the use of what’s called “conversion therapy,” a practice aimed at changing young people’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the bill into law Wednesday, saying Vermont will continue to stand up to hatred and bigotry. He says, “It’s absurd to think that being gay or transgender is something to be cured of.”
Vermont joins California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. in enacting such a law.
Other states have moved to ban the practice, but have so far not been successful.
Earlier this year, Shumlin praised the federal government for a directive saying schools must let trans students use a gender-appropriate bathroom.
A group of Jewish so-called gay ‘conversion’ therapists was forced to set up shop in Israel – after coming under fire in the US.
The ‘gay cure’ practitioners, who call themselves Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH), had previously operated in the US state of New Jersey.
However, the group was shuttered last year after a court found that they broke the state’s consumer fraud protection law by claiming to be able to change the sexuality of clients.
Last year, Washington DC became the latest jurisdiction in the US to ban gay-to-straight conversion therapy.
The UK Parliament is set to consider a private member’s bill on the issue – but the UK government says it has “no plans” to legislate.
