Conversion therapy for children banned in Erie County

With the swipe of a pen, a controversial practice is now banned in Erie County.

On Monday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz signed a law banning people from performing conversion therapy on children in the county. The bill was proposed by Erie County Legislator, Patrick Burke(D) four years ago. 

Conversion Therapy, also known as reparative therapy, is any treatment that aims to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of someone under the age of 18. This includes trying to change someone's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual, or vice versa.

The practice of conversion therapy is opposed by almost all leading health agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry.

7 Eyewitness News reporter Justin Moore is speaking with a survivor of conversion therapy, click on the video above to hear his story.