****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
Today Idaho took a major first step in protecting LGBTQ youth from the barbaric practice of conversion therapy. Conversion therapists falsely claim be able to change LGBTQ youth into straight and cisgender youth. Prominent professional health associations—including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among numerous others—oppose the use of conversion therapy on youth, calling the practice harmful and ineffective. Idaho is on track to be the 10th state to pass legislation limiting the practice though another 40 states still allow this terrible crisis to continue.
As the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth, The Trevor Project applauds the actions of Rep. John McCrostie for sponsoring the critical legislation, HB 398. The Trevor Project frequently receives calls of LGBTQ youth in crisis stemming from their experience with conversion therapy and aims to advocate for the eventual end of state sanctioned conversion therapy across the country via the 50 Bills 50 States campaign.
“The movement to end the practice of conversion therapy is gaining momentum across the country and we couldn’t be happier about it.” said Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. “With tens of thousands of LGBTQ youth still at risk of the horrors of conversion therapy, it is a proud day to have Idaho show us what it means to protect our next generation of amazing LGBTQ youth.”
“Idaho consistently has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation, 5th in the country in 2015. Survivors of conversion therapy are 6 times more likely to suffer high levels of depression and 8 times more likely to attempt suicide. Idaho’s LGBTQ youth need protected from the harms of conversion therapy so they can fulfill their destiny to become leaders in their world,” said Rep. John McCrostie, Idaho State Representative.
If you would like to help The Trevor Project protect LGBTQ youth from the horrors of conversion therapy you can text TREVOR to 40649.
If you’d like to learn more about conversion therapy and the nationwide efforts to end it you can go to our 50 Bills 50 States campaign website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/50-bills-50-states/.
You can also help support this important work by donating here: www.TheTrevorProject.org/give.
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]
