One Colorado weighs in on conversion therapy
One Colorado, he state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans and their families, just weighed in on the prohibition of conversion therapy …
One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans and their families, released the following statement from Executive Director Dave Montez on the passage of the Prohibition on Conversion Therapy, House Bill 1210, by the by the Colorado House of Representatives today with bipartisan support.
“So-called ‘conversion therapy’ includes a range of dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or suppressing a person’s gender identity and is based on the false claim that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) is a mental illness that should be cured or changed. While every mainstream mental and medical professional association in the country has discounted this practice, some Colorado legislators repeatedly made distasteful and scientifically dubious claims about sexual orientation during the committee hearing and on the floor.
“Comparing LGBT Coloradans to alcoholics and drug addicts in an attempt to claim that LGBT people should be forced to change who they are is not only offensive – it’s dangerous. Young LGBT Coloradans are 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers – not because of who they are – but because of the rejection, harassment, and insensitive remarks they hear every day. Subjecting Colorado’s young people to conversion therapy only increases this risk.
“This is an issue that those on both sides of the aisle can agree on. Already, four states and the District of Columbia have passed similar legislation banning this harmful practice, including two states with Republican Governors – Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois. Colorado should follow their lead.
“When nearly all national- and state-mental health associations agree with banning this archaic practice, legislators should put politicking aside and listen to the experts. As HB 1210 heads to the State Senate, it should be given a fair committee assignment and hearing.”
