• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

New Mexico’s GOP Governor Signs Bill Outlawing ‘Conversion Therapy’

April 10, 2017 by Luis Damian Veron Leave a Comment

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, a Republican, signed into law a bill that would prohibit the use of ‘conversion therapy’ in the state, making it the seventh to bar the practice.

SB121, which would delicense therapists that seek to use discredited methods that attempt to change one’s sexual orientation and identity on minors, was passed by the Democratic-controlled New Mexico legislature last month and was awaiting the governor’s signature. Although Gov. Martinez has not been shy about exercising her veto this year, she gave the go-ahead to the ban, citing the the best interests of children in her statement, namely the American Psychological Association’s assessment that conversion therapy “may lead to depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, self-hatred, substance abuse, and suicide,” as well as explicitly ruling out opponents’ contention that the bill would have any impact on religious organizations.

The bipartisan passage of the bill was warmly welcomed by the Human Rights Campaign, as well as LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality New Mexico:

“This is an incredible victory for LGBTQ youth in New Mexico,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “No child should be subjected to this dangerous practice that amounts to nothing more than child abuse. By signing this crucially important legislation into law, Governor Martinez is standing up for vulnerable youth who deserve to be loved and supported for who they are.”

“As a survivor of conversion therapy that happened right here in my home state of New Mexico, it’s a very special day to see this barbaric and dangerous practice banned in the place that I grew up and call home,” said Equality New Mexico Executive Director Amber Royster. “My hope is that parents and families everywhere will think twice before seeking to change their LGBTQ child or loved one, and now we have the legal mechanism to ensure it doesn’t happen at the hands of licensed practitioners in New Mexico.”

Related: ABC ’20/20′ Report Looks Inside The Controversial Practice of Conversion Therapy: WATCH

Other states which have passed similar laws forbidding conversion therapy are California, Vermont, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois. The Supreme Court has left intact New Jersey’s law, leaving an attempted challenge against it unsuccessful. Even as the practice has fallen increasingly out of favor, Vice President Pence is a notorious advocate, as is embattled Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: "Ex-Gays", Conversion Therapy, Nation, New Mexico, Susana Martinez

Recent Posts

  • Trump Has Forbidden Mention of Richard Nixon in the White House

    Trump Has Forbidden Mention of Richard Nixon in the White House

    21 mins ago
  • DOJ Has ‘Strong Evidence’ That Trump Insurrectionists Planned to ‘Capture and Assassinate Elected Officials’

    DOJ Has ‘Strong Evidence’ That Trump Insurrectionists Planned to ‘Capture and Assassinate Elected Officials’

    29 mins ago
  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    15 hours ago
  • Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    17 hours ago
Previous Post: « Indie Film ‘Landline’ Makes History After Getting Licensing Blessing from Chicago Cubs
Next Post: John Oliver Nails the Reason We Should Be ‘Very, Very, Worried’ About Trump’s Activity in Syria – WATCH »

Primary Sidebar

  • Trump Has Forbidden Mention of Richard Nixon in the White House

  • DOJ Has ‘Strong Evidence’ That Trump Insurrectionists Planned to ‘Capture and Assassinate Elected Officials’

  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

Recent Posts

  • Trump Has Forbidden Mention of Richard Nixon in the White House

    Trump Has Forbidden Mention of Richard Nixon in the White House

    21 mins ago
  • DOJ Has ‘Strong Evidence’ That Trump Insurrectionists Planned to ‘Capture and Assassinate Elected Officials’

    DOJ Has ‘Strong Evidence’ That Trump Insurrectionists Planned to ‘Capture and Assassinate Elected Officials’

    29 mins ago
  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    15 hours ago
  • Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    17 hours ago
  • Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    20 hours ago
  • This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    21 hours ago
  • Tilda Swinton: ‘I Always Felt I Was Queer … It’s My World’

    Tilda Swinton: ‘I Always Felt I Was Queer … It’s My World’

    21 hours ago
  • QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) Vows to File Impeachment Articles Against Joe Biden on His First Day in Office: WATCH

    QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) Vows to File Impeachment Articles Against Joe Biden on His First Day in Office: WATCH

    22 hours ago
  • Siegfried & Roy’s Siegfried Fischbacher Has Died at 81, Eight Months After Losing Roy Horn

    Siegfried & Roy’s Siegfried Fischbacher Has Died at 81, Eight Months After Losing Roy Horn

    22 hours ago
  • Lady Gaga to Sing National Anthem at Biden Inauguration

    Lady Gaga to Sing National Anthem at Biden Inauguration

    23 hours ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Log in