In the re -effort to end the practice of juvenile conversion therapy in Ohio, Bill 71 Senate He was introduced in February by the leader of the minority of the Senate Ohio Nicke Antonio (D-shelawood) and Senator Beth Liston (D-Dublin).
The bill would forbid licensed people to practice conversion therapy. If the SB 71 becomes the law, the enforcement comes from the professional council of a person’s state license. Each board would establish its own complaint. The management board would be responsible for deciding whether the offense deserves suspension or withdrawing the license.
Conversion therapy, sometimes called reparative therapy or reintegration therapy, is a set of commonly condemned practices aimed at changing the sexual orientation or sexual identity of a person.
“Conversion therapy does not work and is often deeply traumatic for those who give it up, especially for minors whose brain is still developing,” Antonio said for Buckeye Flame. “This enforces the idea that they should be ashamed of who they are and can lead to lower self -esteem, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, abuse of substances and suicidal thoughts. Sexual orientation is not a disorder or pathologically. It is a state of being as natural as being left or right. “
Every critical medical and psychological organization said that conversion therapy does not work and causes actual damage, such as increasing anxiety, depression and suicide.
The same account was introduced in 2023 by a representative of Mary Lightbody, who stepped down last year to spend more time with her family. The legislation received the hearing of the home committee, but it did not go further.
Poston said that the bill would also receive a commission’s hearing in the Senate because it was introduced in the first 18 months of the legislative session. If voting takes place in the Committee, Republicans can add their names to the list of co -consonants, which gives double -sided support.
“There are challenges in every democratic account in building support and I think that the environment is currently not great for LGBTQ+ and bills that talk about their needs and rights,” said Pragel. “However, I think that the possibility of sharing harm resulting from this practice and emphasizing individual stories is value in a further conversation.”
Poston said that more and more municipalities are prohibiting the therapy of juvenile conversion within their city limits, the cities of conversations “are building on themselves” and can affect the level of state.
Currently, conversion therapy is banned in 13 different municipalities in Ohio, in an area covering about 25% of the Ohio population.
“Every bill that people follow and feel strong is based on the inserts of people who know this problem,” she said. “Everyone can contact the members of the Committee, regardless of whether it is your state senator or not, and share why [the ban] It is important and what it means to you. ” Ding
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- Buckeye Flame Ohio LGBTQ+ legislation guide for 2025 can be found here.
- If you are a teenage LGBTQ+ in crisis, please contact Trevor project: 866-4-U-TREVOR.
- If you are an adult transgender in need of immediate aid, please contact National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- To register to vote or check the status of the voter’s eligibility in the state of Ohio, Click here.
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