Maryland outlaws therapy for minors who want to overcome same-sex attraction
The Republican governor of Maryland signed into law a ban on licensed therapists or counsellors providing minors with therapy to resolve gender confusion or unwanted homosexual attraction. Larry Hogan signed the so-called Youth Mental Health Protection Act into law on Tuesday. The state Senate passed the bill 34-12 in March, and the state House 95-27 in April. “The governor was pleased to sign this bill, and believes it’s the right thing to do,” Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse told Metro Weekly . Starting in October, it will be illegal to perform on a minor “any effort to change the behavioural expression of an individual’s sexual orientation, change gender expression , or eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.” Violators will be deemed to have “engaged in unprofessional conduct” and risk a suspension or revocation of their health or child care licenses. The ban applies to all minors regardless of wheth