Sad, It Is Sad That They Want To Force Children Straight

All the states so far had bipartisan support to ban conversion therapy for minors, but in Maine…

Tempers flare as Maine House approves ban on conversion therapy
The bill to prohibit state-licensed therapists from applying methods aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors fuels sharp conflicts.
Press Herald
By Kevin Miller
April 12, 2018

AUGUSTA — A House debate over legislation to ban conversion therapy in Maine devolved Thursday into an emotional and, at times, personal display of the lingering cultural divide at the State House over sexual orientation and religion.

House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, sternly warned several speakers against “impugning the motives” of other lawmakers and even suspended debate for nearly a half hour before the chamber approved the controversial bill on a 76-68 vote.

The largely party-line vote raises doubts about the prospects for a bill that would prohibit state-licensed therapists from engaging in conversion therapy treatment that attempts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals under age 18.

“This therapy always leads to a bad outcome, and I support this bill,” said Rep. Patricia Hymanson, D-York, a neurologist.

The Republicans claim…

But several of the conservative Republican lawmakers who spoke against the bill on the House floor couched their opposition in moral, religious or political terms.

Rep. Larry Lockman, an Amherst Republican well known for his hard-right views and controversial comments on social issues, predicted the bill will only “punish licensed professionals who dissent from the prevailing progressive orthodoxy” on sexual orientation and transgendered individuals.

Well if the bill is like Connecticut’s law and other state laws there are exemptions for clergy unless they are licensed therapists, then they could lose their professional licenses, so far nine state ban conversion therapy including Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island.

So I guess that the Maine Republicans are comfortable with the high suicide rates among LGBT children who are forced going to conversion therapy.

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