California and New Jersey have passed legislation banning gay conversion therapy for minors and now Del. Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington) wants to do the same in Virginia, the WaPo reports:
The ban would not affect religious counseling that does not involve licensed therapists or adults who seek out the therapy on their own. It would bar professional therapists from practicing conversion therapy, which the American Psychiatric Association opposes, on children younger than 18.
Hope and other advocates said they spoke to people who underwent the therapy as minors but were not willing to speak publicly. No statistics were available on the number of people who have gone through the treatment either as minors or adults.
Similar bills have been introduced or are forthcoming in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
