Governor Of Puerto Rico Bans Ex-Gay Therapy

Governor Ricardo Rosselló of Puerto Rico issued an executive order on Wednesday banning the harmful practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ minors.

From The New York Times:

The decision came after Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives refused to vote on a bill that would have prohibited conversion therapy, a discredited practice that proponents claim can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The measure passed the Senate this month.

“I firmly believe that the idea that there are people in our society who need treatment because of their gender identity or whom they love is not only absurd, it is harmful to so many children and young adults who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Gov. Rosselló in a statement last week announcing his plans.

Puerto Rico, with 3.2 million citizens, is an unincorporated territory of the United States.

Currently, sixteen states, Washington DC, and dozens of cities and counties have also banned so-called conversion therapy.

As I've reported many times on The Randy Report, so-called 'conversion therapy' or 'ex-gay therapy' has been denounced by practically every major medical organization including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.