RAUNER SIGNS YOUTH GENDER COUNSELING BAN INTO EFFECT as he makes a deal with the gay lobby
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| Will say or do anything. Stands for nothing. |
SPRINGFIELD - Though social conservatives were calling on Governor Rauner to protect religious rights and reject a bill that bans counselors from discussing certain topics with minors confused about their sexuality, the governor signed HB 217 into law Thursday.
The Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act, HB 217, makes it illegal for mental health care specialists to perform conversion therapies on patients under the age of 18.
The LGBT community in Illinois is delighted with the new law. It was reported that when Rauner met with the LGBT community shortly after his election, they urged him to support the effort.
"Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in Illinois will now be protected from discredited and dangerous efforts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity," Equality Illinois Public Policy Director Mike Ziri said in an email to supporters upon news of the bill's signing. "Known as 'conversion therapy,' these efforts are extremely harmful to the physical and mental well-being of young people."
More from the House Sponsor openly gay State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) in Progress Illinois' story on the bill.
For the most part, the bill was supported by Democrats and rejected by Republican lawmakers, except GOP senators Leader Christine Radogno and Chris Nybo and GOP House members Leader Jim Durkin, David Leitch, Mike McAulliffe, Bob Pritchard and Ed Sullivan.
