Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill Wednesday officially banning conversion therapy for minors.
The controversial practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity has long been opposed by major medical and psychiatric organizations, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.
“Conversion therapy is a harmful, widely discredited practice that has no place in Maine,” Mills said. “By signing this bill into law today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people in Maine and across the country: We stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are.”
A similar bill passed the Legislature last year but was vetoed by former Republican Governor Paul LePage.
“After the disappointment of last year’s veto, they came back stronger and passed legislation to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy,” Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth, said in a statement to the Daily News. “We will continue to push each and every day to insure that every state in the country follows Maine’s example and ends this cruel practice once and for all.”
Sixteen other states have also banned conversion therapy, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, California and Illinois.
Maine’s ban will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month.
