Antonio, Maharath Testify on Conversion Therapy Ban for Minors
November 16, 2022
Nickie J. Antonio News
Today, state Senators Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 50, which would prohibit certain licensed healthcare professionals in Ohio from engaging in conversion therapy when treating minors.
“Conversion therapy does not work and is often deeply traumatizing for those who undergo it, especially for minors whose brains are still developing,” said Antonio. “It enforces the idea that they should be ashamed of who they are and can lead to lower self-esteem, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. Sexual orientation is not a disorder, nor is it pathological.” Conversion therapy has been widely discredited by medical and psychological professionals and shown to cause unnecessary harm to those who undergo it. The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Counseling Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, United Nations Human Rights Council and many other respected medical organizations have taken stances against the practice of conversion therapy.
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia have banned conversion therapy for minors, 6 have partially banned it, and 21 have no state law or policy, including Ohio. A growing number of cities in Ohio have instituted bans on conversion therapy for minors. Last month, Akron banned the practice, joining 11 other Ohio cities including Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Reynoldsburg, Cincinnati, Lakewood, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.
“We cannot allow one more person to be targeted by these dangerous and discredited practices,” said Maharath. “Banning conversion therapy will protect Ohio’s youth from harm and affirm that being LGBTQ+ is not a disorder that can be treated, but rather something completely natural and valid.”
Read their remarks here and watch their testimony here.
“Conversion therapy does not work and is often deeply traumatizing for those who undergo it, especially for minors whose brains are still developing,” said Antonio. “It enforces the idea that they should be ashamed of who they are and can lead to lower self-esteem, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. Sexual orientation is not a disorder, nor is it pathological.” Conversion therapy has been widely discredited by medical and psychological professionals and shown to cause unnecessary harm to those who undergo it. The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Counseling Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, United Nations Human Rights Council and many other respected medical organizations have taken stances against the practice of conversion therapy.
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia have banned conversion therapy for minors, 6 have partially banned it, and 21 have no state law or policy, including Ohio. A growing number of cities in Ohio have instituted bans on conversion therapy for minors. Last month, Akron banned the practice, joining 11 other Ohio cities including Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Reynoldsburg, Cincinnati, Lakewood, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.
“We cannot allow one more person to be targeted by these dangerous and discredited practices,” said Maharath. “Banning conversion therapy will protect Ohio’s youth from harm and affirm that being LGBTQ+ is not a disorder that can be treated, but rather something completely natural and valid.”
Read their remarks here and watch their testimony here.