“Conversion therapy is a so-called mental health treatment that aims to change a person because of their sexuality or gender expression,” said Cat Salonek, policy director for OutFront Minnesota.
The American Psychiatric Association has said it opposes any treatment based on the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder.
Salonek says an official ban on conversion therapy would help prevent issues LGBTQ youth face, including depression, substance abuse and suicide.
“Having a young person medicalized, institutionalized just for being who they are is traumatizing,” Salonek said.
