Illinois House rejects effort to ban 'conversion therapy'
Fri. April 11, 2014 10:16 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Springfield, IL -
The Illinois House voted down a bill banning so-called "conversion therapy" for minors.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported the measure was defeated Thursday by a 44-51 vote. Twenty-two members didn't vote.
HB5569, introduced in the House Feb. 14 by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), would have prohibited mental health providers from engaging in any effort to change the sexual orientation of anyone under the age of 18.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't get the conversion therapy bill passed, but very encouraged that we had such a huge victory with the bullying bill earlier in the day," Cassidy told ChicagoPride.com. "I remain committed to ensuring that we secure protections for our youth."
LGBT advocaty groups, including Equality Illinois, have called "conversion therapy" dangerous and called on the Illinois House to pass the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act. Both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have condemned "conversion" or "repartative" therapy.
California and New Jersey ban "conversion therapy" to minors. Lawmakers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and other states have introduced similar measures.
Related: House Roll Call for HB5569 (PDF)
The Chicago Sun-Times reported the measure was defeated Thursday by a 44-51 vote. Twenty-two members didn't vote.
HB5569, introduced in the House Feb. 14 by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), would have prohibited mental health providers from engaging in any effort to change the sexual orientation of anyone under the age of 18.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't get the conversion therapy bill passed, but very encouraged that we had such a huge victory with the bullying bill earlier in the day," Cassidy told ChicagoPride.com. "I remain committed to ensuring that we secure protections for our youth."
LGBT advocaty groups, including Equality Illinois, have called "conversion therapy" dangerous and called on the Illinois House to pass the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act. Both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have condemned "conversion" or "repartative" therapy.
California and New Jersey ban "conversion therapy" to minors. Lawmakers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and other states have introduced similar measures.
Related: House Roll Call for HB5569 (PDF)