ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — The New York State Assembly and Senate have passed a bill banning conversion therapy for minors, which Governor Andrew Cuomo will sign into law soon.
The anti-conversion therapy bill will prohibit mental health professionals from engaging in efforts to change the sexual orientation of patients under the age of 18.
The measure has repeatedly passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly but died in the Senate until this year, when Democrats took over the chamber following last November's election gains.
Both houses of the state legislature have also passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which bans discrimination against people or groups because of their perceived gender identity or expression.
"At a time when the federal government is doing everything it can to roll back the hard won rights of transgender Americans, New York STate is once again stepping up for full equality and equal protections under the law," Gov. Cuomo said in a statement. "We were the first state in the nation to issue regulations prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression, and continue to fight this federal administration's despicable attacks on trans people."
New York becomes the 15th state to ban conversion therapy.
