Saying that it "has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors," Illinois' legislature has passed a bill that bans conversion therapy or sexual orientation change efforts on LGBT youth under 18 in the state.
"Being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming. The major professional associations of mental health practitioners and researchers in the United States have recognized this fact for nearly 40 years," declared HB 217, also known as the Youth Mental Health Protection Act.
The Illinois Senate passed the bill with a 34-19 vote on Friday following the approval by the House last May 19.
The bill will now be sent to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner who declined to issue any statement on the matter.
Equality Illinois, the largest LGBT advocacy group in the state, urged Rauner to sign the bill and two other measures on hate crime protections for LGBTs, one of which would require funeral directors to respect a person's last instructions regarding his or her gender identity.
"The legislature approved all three of these bills with bipartisan majorities, meaning that in Illinois there is no party label attached to advancing the ability of LGBT Illinoisans to live equal and meaningful lives, which should be a consideration when Gov. Rauner sits down to review these measures," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.
The bill cited a report issued by the American Psychological Association's task force in 2009 which "concluded that sexual orientation change efforts can pose critical health risks to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, including confusion, depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress and disappointment."
It also said conversion therapy can lead to "self-blame, decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, hostility and blame towards parents, feelings of anger and betrayal, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors, a feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to oneself, a loss of faith, and a sense of having wasted time and resources."
A study showed that LGBT young adults who experienced family rejection during adolescence were "8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection."
HB 217 declares that "under no circumstances shall a mental health provider engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18."
A mental health provider who attempts conversion therapy on a person under 18 in Illinois may be subjected to discipline by a licensing entity or disciplinary board.
