I didn't testify in person but I submitted testimony for the hearing on HB 6695...
Dear Co-Chairs and Committee Members,
I would like to urge you to vote in favor of HB 6695 AAC Concerning the Protection of Youth from Conversion Therapy. The passage of the bill will have a positive effect on the transgender and the bisexual, lesbian, and gay community.
In 2015 there was a survey of 27,715 transgender individual respondents from all fifty states, the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey was one of the most inclusive survey and their findings shows how Conversion Therapy effects the transgender community. The study found that even through Conversion Therapy is rejected by the medical community there still are some professionals that continue to practice Conversion Therapy to the detriment of their clients. According to the study,
Submitted by,
Diana _________, MSW
Executive Director
Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition
Dear Co-Chairs and Committee Members,
I would like to urge you to vote in favor of HB 6695 AAC Concerning the Protection of Youth from Conversion Therapy. The passage of the bill will have a positive effect on the transgender and the bisexual, lesbian, and gay community.
In 2015 there was a survey of 27,715 transgender individual respondents from all fifty states, the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey was one of the most inclusive survey and their findings shows how Conversion Therapy effects the transgender community. The study found that even through Conversion Therapy is rejected by the medical community there still are some professionals that continue to practice Conversion Therapy to the detriment of their clients. According to the study,
Participants who had a professional try to stop them from being transgender were:In addition, all the major healthcare professional associations support a ban on Conversion Therapy including American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers. There has been no peer reviewed research that has shown that Conversion Therapy to be effective and with negative outcome like those found in the 2015 Transgender Survey therefore it is imperative that you pass the HB 6695 banning Conversion Therapy. For many transgender people it could be the difference between living and dying.
• Far more likely to currently be experiencing serious psychological distress (47%) than those who did not have the experience (34%).
• More likely to have attempted suicide (58%) than those who did not have the experience (39%).
• Nearly three times as likely to have run away from home (22%) than those who did not have the experience (8%).
• More likely to have ever experienced homelessness (46%) than those who did not have the experience (29%).
Submitted by,
Diana _________, MSW
Executive Director
Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition
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