Ohio lawmakers have been urged to act on legislation to ban gay conversion therapy in the state.
A bill introduced in June by Democrat Reps Denise Driehaus and Debbie Phillips and assigned to the Republican-chaired House Health and Aging Committee has yet to have a hearing.
Driehaus said the bill “will keep our children safe by preventing them from being backed into a corner and portraying their feelings as wrong.” She added there are at least three licensed professionals practicing conversion therapy in Ohio.
RELATED: Maggie Gallagher: Gay Conversion Therapy Is As Harmless As ‘Hippie Happenings In The 1970s'
When introduced, LGBT rights supporters cited the story of Cincinnati transgender teen Leelah Alcorn who committed suicide after her parents sent her to conversion therapy.
On Tuesday, LGBT advocates, members of the transgender community and a number of psychologists urged the House to act on the bill.
Conversion therapy on minors is banned in California, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Oregon and Illinois.
Watch a VICE report on conversion therapy organization Journey Into Manhood below.
