Today the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a report (.pdf) detailing the harms and dangers presented by so-called conversion therapy used on LGBTQ youth in attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

The report follows the Obama Administration’s strong condemnation of conversion therapy in April when the President announced his support for Leelah’s Law, which would ban conversion therapy if passed.

The International Business Times reported that “the report is also the first publication of consensus statements by a panel of American Psychological Association experts, who forcefully panned conversion therapy in July.”

In 2012, California became the first state in the country to protect LGBT youth by banning this harmful and dangerous practice, as a result of Senate Bill 1172, sponsored by Federation member Equality California, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (Check out their #BornPerfect campaign!), Gaylesta, Mental Health America of Northern California, Lambda Legal and the Courage Campaign.

This August, Illinois banned conversion therapy thanks in part to a state-wide effort led by Federation member Equality Illinois.

Lawmakers in at least 17 other states have yet to pass the legislation introduced bans on conversion therapy for minors.

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