****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
The State of Kentucky took a bold step this month to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy in 2018. 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. If successful, Kentucky would 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 Representative Jim Wayne and Representative Mary Lou Marzian for introducing House Bill 258.
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. “I’m proud to see Kentucky continue to fight to protect its youth from the harms of conversion therapy.” said Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project.
Tanner Mobley, a student at Bellarmine University who has been passionately working to end conversion therapy in Kentucky added, “Conversion therapy is torture. Not only is it ineffective and dangerous for those who endure it, but it also fuels a narrative that LGBTQ people can and should change who they are. We need legislation in Kentucky to ensure not one more LGBTQ experiences the life long pain it causes.”
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 .
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