Bill banning gay conversion therapy has the votes to pass, supporters say

By Seamus Lyman

A bill that would ban the practice of conversion therapy on LGBT minors passed the Assembly Tuesday and awaits a vote in the Senate.

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, D-Greenwich Village, the bill (A.6983-b) passed with a vote of 105 yeas and 29 nays and was delivered to the Senate Rules Committee. The controversial therapy is an attempt to change a person's sexual orientation.

Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, sponsored the bill in the Senate (S.4917-b) and praised his colleagues in the other house for passing the bill.

"Today's passage of A.6983-B in the New York State Assembly is a major step towards banning so-called conversion 'therapy' on LGBT youth by licensed mental health professionals. Being an LGBT young person isn't an illness that needs to be cured. Thanks to the leadership of Assembly Member Glick and Speaker Silver, we're one step closer to joining New Jersey and California in protecting our kids from being subject to this dangerous practice and their parents from being victims of a proven scam," Hoylman said. "Banning conservation therapy is a nonpartisan issue that should receive full consideration by my colleagues in the Senate."

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-06-18-88319.113122-Bill-banning-gay-conversion-therapy-has-the-votes-to-pass-supporters-say.html