Newton State Rep. Kay Khan gathered with House and Senate leaders, her legislative colleagues, LGTBQ advocates, supporters, and members of the public for a ceremonial signing of her bill to ban conversion therapy for minors.
“Today we must celebrate the accomplishments of every single advocate, constituent, parent, youth, medical professional, ally, legislator and association who fought alongside me to pass the Conversion Therapy Ban Bill,” said Khan. “I am so proud that after many years of negotiations and advocacy, H.140 is now law, designed to protect underage LGTBQ youth from abusive therapeutic practices.”
The nation’s leading professional and mental health organizations universally condemn conversion therapy methods, which put youth at high risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality. A large coalition over twenty organizations in Massachusetts gathered at the community bill signing, including: GLAD, National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts, MassEquality, the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Boston Bar Association, the Children’s League of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Psychological Association, Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and more.
Khan’s bill passed the House by a vote of 147-8 and the Senate by a vote of 34-0. Governor Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on April 8.
Photos by Juno Baier
Kudos to Kay, she worked so hard on this and it is such the RIGHT thing to do. I am so pleased that she is my State Rep! Thank you Kay.
Thanks Rep. Khan for your leadership and persistence!
(And is that the sweetest photo of a lawmaker at her bill passing celebration ever?)