Illinois ‘conversion’ therapy ban goes to governor

The Illinois legislature passed a ban on “conversion” therapy Friday, and has sent it to the governor.

Supporters of the bill said they hoped Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner would become the second Republican governor, after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, to enact such a law.

“We couldn’t be prouder to add Illinois to the list of legislatures that have acted to protect LGBT youth,” said Samantha Ames, coordinator of the #BornPerfect Campaign at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The campaign seeks to pass bans on sexual-orientation change efforts for minors in all states.

On Friday, the Illinois state Senate passed, 34-19, the Illinois Youth Mental Health Protection Act. The Illinois state House approved the bill, 68-43, earlier in May.

Oregon recently joined California, New Jersey, and the District in passing laws that prohibit state-licensed mental health providers from offering therapy to help youth change their sexual orientation. Ban supporters, including Equality Illinois, say the therapy harms children and teens, and is ineffective.

Supporters of therapy, which is also known as “reparative” therapy, say people seeking mental health counseling for unwanted same-sex attractions should be able to get counseling to help them reduce or eliminate those attractions.

The Illinois Family Institute, which opposes the ban, cited two scholars who urged lawmakers not to pass bans, saying that too little is known about “gender dysphoria” for lawmakers to step in and block an entire avenue of therapy.

Separately, a jury trial is set to begin Tuesday in New Jersey over whether a Jewish organization committed consumer fraud when it said it could help people overcome their same-sex attractions.

Plaintiffs, including Chaim Levin and Michael Ferguson, will testify that they were tricked into accepting “conversion” therapy services from Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH).