Los Angeles, CA – California Assemblymember Evan Low’s AB 2943, a bill recognizing the barbaric practice of conversion therapy as consumer fraud against LGBTQ adults and young people, passed today with a bipartisan vote of 50 to 18 in the California Assembly with support from co-sponsor The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Conversion therapists falsely claim to be able to change people’s sexual orientation and gender identity, a practice opposed by prominent professional health associations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The Trevor Project is invested in ending conversion therapy in every state. The organization supported Low’s bill through its 50 Bills 50 States initiative, including an April 10, 2018 testimony from conversion therapy survivor and The Trevor Project’s Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs, Sam Brinton. In addition, The Trevor Project activated its network with nearly 200 grassroots volunteers in California calling or reaching out to their legislators on the importance of passing the bill. The organization also worked closely with Assemblymember Low and Equality California to draft the bill and coordinate outreach to educate fellow assemblymembers on the legislation and the dangers of conversion therapy. The California Senate will soon vote on the bill before it reaches the office of California Governor Jerry Brown.
“I’m so proud of California legislators for passing legislation to ban the fraudulent practice of conversion therapy to protect its LGBTQ adults and young people,” said Brinton. “This historic first legislative body vote is a great first step in making the country a safer place for the LGBTQ community.”
“The pain and fear suffered by those who have been subjected to conversion therapy is something that I can personally identify with,” said Assemblymember Evan Low. “This legislation finally creates accountability for those who claim to provide therapy but are in fact peddling an unfounded and destructive practice.”
The Trevor Project’s 50 Bills 50 States campaign works to introduce legislation to ban conversion therapy in every state in the country. So far bills have been introduced or successfully passed in 34 states. People can sign up to join 50 Bills 50 States by texting “TREVOR” to 40649.
About The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace. Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at via chat www.TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting to .
MEDIA CONTACT
Kevin Wong
Vice President of Communications
212.695.8650 x407
[email protected]
