Honolulu Pride 2012. | Photo: Daniel Ramirez / Flickr
Hawaii just became the 12th US state to ban LGBTI conversion therapy for minors.
The Hawaii State Senate passed a bill on 10 April banning any attempt to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTI youth.
And then on Friday (27 April), lawmakers in Hawaii cleared the way for SB 270 to be sent on to Democratic Governor David Ige, who is expected to sign the bill into law.
Chair of the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party Michael Golojuch said: ‘This has been a priority of the caucus for years,’ according to Hawaii News Now.
‘[It] ensures that LGBTQ youth will not be tortured by mental health professionals,’ he said.
The full list of US states include: New Jersey, California, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New Mexico, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Nevada, Washington and Maryland.
Gay cure therapy: A reality
Conversion therapy is a reality for some LGBTI people, especially youth.
Every mainstream health and psychological group in the world condemn the harmful practice.
‘By passing this legislation, Hawaiian legislators are clearly demonstrating a passion for action to care for LGBTQ youth,’ said Sam Briton, a non-binary survivor of conversion therapy who works as head of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project.
‘Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice that I and nearly 700,000 LGBTQ people have survived. We are so grateful to Hawaii for protecting our youth from its trauma,’ they continued.
In a viral opinion piece by Gay Star News, we explore the harsh reality for people who are often forced into these situations.
Doctors tortured and starved Raymond Buys and even forced him to eat his own feces. Severely malnourished, dehydrated, with wounds all over his body, he lay in intensive care for four weeks until he died.
Reports out of Ecuador also reveal illegal gay cure therapies force feed, beat, electroshock and rape LGBTI patients.
