Delaware just became the fourteenth state to ban conversion therapy for minors.

Governor John Carney signed a bill to ban attempts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors. The law labels conversion therapy as “unprofessional conduct” for mental health and medical professionals, creating grounds for discipline.

Supporters of the bill said that they do not know of anyone practicing conversion therapy in Delaware, but they do know of cases of teens being sent out of state for conversion therapy.

“We are not aware of anyone currently practicing conversion therapy in Delaware,” said Lisa Goodman of Equality Delaware. “We are aware of a number of young people through the years who have been referred out by Delaware licensed mental health professionals to people doing conversion therapy out of state, and that is one thing that this bill will also prohibit.”

The law also prevents the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families from recommending conversion therapy.

Advocates hailed the new law.

“This bill sends an important message that a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity is neither capable of being changed nor does it need to be changed, and efforts to try to do so in the name of therapy have no place in our State,” said Mark Purpura, who’s on the board of Equality Delaware.

Connecticut, California, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and D.C. all have laws banning conversion therapy for minors.

•   Share on Facebook
•   Share on Twitter

This Story Filed Under