Could Kentucky be on its way to make conversion therapy legal again?
Could Kentucky be on its way to unban conversion therapy, making it legal for
minors? The answer is - yes. It is possible that Kentucky could undo the conversion
therapy ban, and there is a bill (House Bill 495) that seems set on doing just that.
Conversion therapy is “a pseudoscientific and discredited practice that attempts to
force LGBTQ+ individuals to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and
instead identify as heterosexual or cisgender.” as psychologytoday.com puts it, for
those who didn’t know what it was.
This bill was originally to protect conversion therapy but banning gender affirming
care has now been added to the bill as well. The add-on would outlaw using
Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care (hormone-blockers and surgery) intended
for transgender ADULTS. You heard that right. It is not targeting transgender
minors like the 2023 bill did, this is applying to adults.
The only Republican to vote against this bill was a Paducah Republican - Sen.
Danny Carroll.
As a minor who lives in Kentucky, this issue particularly bothers me. My research
shows the negative effects that conversion therapy can have on people. Some of
them being depression, substance abuse - and in worse cases - suicide.
Not to mention the horrible things that happen in conversion therapy. A common
misconception is that they just “talk you out of it” and “scare you into thinking it’s
wrong”. But that’s not at all what happens.
The form of ‘treatment’ can vary from hypnosis, electric shocks, there was also
faith-based treatments that was usually prayer and - in some cases - exorcisms. Even
though conversion therapy ‘treatments’ do vary, they are all cruel, nonetheless.
My heart goes out to all the LGBT+ individuals in Kentucky - and even those
outside Kentucky. Remember that this is a serious problem, and no matter your
views, this is just downright cruel and only does harm to people.
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