*****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******
New Hampshire took a huge leap closer to becoming the first state in 2018 to protect LGBTQ youth by banning the practice of conversion therapy. Today’s reconsideration comes after the House failed to pass these protections a few weeks ago by a single vote. Today the measure was passed with a vote of 179 to 171.
Conversion therapy is discredited by every major mental health organization yet new research by the Williams Institute found that over 350,000 LGBTQ youth have been put into conversion therapy and 20,000 LGBTQ youth are STILL at risk of being put into conversion therapy, including in New Hampshire.
“The Trevor Project is dedicated to ending the barbaric practice of conversion therapy, and we could not be happier that the New Hampshire House has taken such a major step today to help. We are hopeful that this bill will pass the State Senate and be signed once it arrives on Gov. Sununu’s desk” said Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. “This would have not been possible without the work of amazing legislators like Representatives Ed Butler, Lucy Weber, and Mindi Messmer who led the charge to once and for all protect LGBTQ youth from this dangerous and discredited practice” they added.
“The ACLU-NH commends the NH House of Representatives for rallying behind HB587 and supporting a state ban on conversion therapy. Today’s votes represented a resounding show of support for LGBT youth. Conversion therapy is harmful and ineffective, and has no place in New Hampshire,” said Jeanne Hruska, Policy Director of The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire (ACLU-NH).
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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