cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/25379793
The governor took action using his executive powers after efforts to enact a law banning the practice repeatedly failed in the state’s Republican-dominated legislature. Beshear signed the executive order during a statehouse ceremony attended by activists for LGBTQ+ rights.
“Let’s be clear: conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it has been shown to increase rates of suicide and depression,” Beshear said in a statement. “This is about doing what is right and protecting our children. Hate is not who we are as Kentuckians.”
It’s absolutely crazy that the governor of Kentucky can sign this bill but California’s bill to criminalize conversion therapy continues to be DOA in the state assembly.
My quick web search says California outlawed conversion therapy in 2012. Since then there has been attempts to side step it since the language restricts “mental health providers”, which is a licensed group. But others can still try to convert people, such as at a camp. Now they can’t say they are providing treatment legally, so it seems like California can and did outlaw it, but they are playing whack-a-mole, with people trying to get around the law on language technicalities. CA should definitely plug those holes, but really no one should be believing what these not licensed quacks are trying to sell either.
A stopped clock…