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DETROIT — Conversion therapy targeting LGBTQ+ youth to change their sexual orientation or gender identity will soon be banned in Michigan after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation outlawing the practice.
Michigan becomes the 22nd state to outlaw the practice of conversion therapy, which state lawmakers defined as any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. That does not include counseling that provides assistance to people undergoing a gender transition.
The House bills signed by Whitmer ban licensed mental health professionals in Michigan from practicing conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ minors. Both bills passed 21-15 in the state Senate, with one Republican member siding with Democrats in favor of each bill. The legislation did not garner enough GOP support to take immediate effect. Instead, it will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
“Today, we are banning the horrific practice of conversion therapy in Michigan and ensuring this is a state where you can be who you are,” Whitmer, who is the mother of a member of the LGBTQ community, said in a statement. “I am grateful that we are taking action to make Michigan a more welcoming, inclusive place.”
Erin Knott, executive director at Equality Michigan which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in the state, celebrated the legislation.
“Governor Whitmer has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and safety of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ youth and is sending the powerful message that every young person in our state deserves to grow up free from the damaging effects of this dangerous practice,” she said in a statement. “By affirming that LGBTQ+ youth should be embraced, supported, and loved for exactly who they are, Michigan is paving the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”
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‘Harm caused by this discredited practice’
According to the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there is no evidence that conversion therapy is effective. But there is evidence the practice can be harmful to children’s development.
Other leading medical and psychological associations say the practice is ineffective as well, including the American Medical Association.
The head of the Michigan State Medical Society applauded Whitmer for banning conversion therapy, saying the practice “lacks rigorous scientific validation.”
“As a medical community, we are grounded in evidence-based approaches, dedicated to providing safe practices and trustworthy treatments, and sworn to first ‘do no harm.’ Therefore, we appreciate the work of the Legislature and Gov. Whitmer in recognizing the harm caused by this discredited practice and the commitment to eradicate it within the state of Michigan,” said Dr. M. Salim Siddiqui, president of the society, in a statement,
In 2021, Whitmer signed an executive directive prohibiting the use of public funds for the practice. Michigan LGBTQ+ advocates wanted lawmakers to ban conversion therapy.
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Recent legislation protecting LGBTQ+ rights
Earlier this year, Whitmer expanded the state’s civil rights law to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, essentially codifying a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that found that the law offers protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
She has pitched protecting LGBTQ+ rights in Michigan as a way to retain and attract new residents amid sluggish population growth and lure business investments to the state.
Lawmakers in Minnesota, where Democrats also seized control earlier this year, passed a similar ban on conversion therapy in April. In Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order last month that prohibits state agencies from using funds to promote or facilitate conversion therapy.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community in May in response to what it called an “unprecedented and dangerous” spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping statehouses this year. The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC.
Follow Clara Hendrickson and Arpan Lobo on Twitter @clarajanehen and @arpanlobo
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