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Press

Louisville, KY Protects LGBTQ Youth from Conversion Therapy

Today, September 17th, the City of Louisville passed an ordinance that prohibits licensed medical professionals from subjecting LGBTQ youth to the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. With this 24 to 1 vote, Louisville becomes the second and largest city in Kentucky to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy — an action that could positively impact the potential of passing statewide legislation in the future. “The Trevor Project is thrilled to see the largest city in Kentucky take action to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy. Based on our research, this discredited practice is strongly associated with…
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Press

Anchorage Becomes First City in Alaska to Protect LGBTQ Youth From Conversion Therapy

Yesterday, August 26th, the Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance that prohibits licensed medical professionals from subjecting minors to conversion therapy, becoming the first city in Alaska to do so. With this victory, Alaska also becomes the 40th state to take action against conversion therapy — only 10 states have not introduced similar legislation or enacted any protections at the state or municipal level. The Trevor Project is proud to have worked with Anchorage Assembly Members Felix Rivera and Christopher Constant to support this ordinance.  “The Trevor Project applauds the Anchorage Assembly for taking this historic action to end conversion therapy…
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Advocacy

Progress in Kentucky

The conversation around protecting Kentucky’s LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy has ramped up this month. Today, August 25th, the Kentucky State Legislature held its first-ever informational hearing on the dangers of conversion therapy in a Joint Interim Legislative Committee, which could positively impact the potential of passing statewide legislation in the future. And on August 31st, the City of Louisville will introduce a proposed ordinance that would protect LGBTQ youth from being subjected to the discredited practice of conversion therapy by licensed mental health practitioners. “The Trevor Project is encouraged by the growing momentum against conversion therapy in the Commonwealth…
Group of LGBTQ youth, smiling and with their arms around each other, photographed from below with the sky behind them
Press

The Trevor Project Joins Lambda Legal & Over Two Dozen LGBTQ Organizations on Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Protect LGBTQ Foster Youth and Parents

Oral argument for Fulton v. City of Philadelphia is scheduled for November 4, 2020. Statement from Sam Brinton (they/them pronouns), Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project: “As the largest suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth, we know how vital family support is to mental health and wellness. According to The Trevor Project’s 2020 national survey, LGBTQ youth who reported high levels of social support from family and friends were significantly less likely to attempt suicide compared to those with lower levels of social support. It is unconscionable that any foster care agency would deny a child a…
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Advocacy

Progress in Virginia: Protecting Youth from Conversion Therapy

2020 legislative sessions have begun across the nation and Virginia is the first to take action on protecting LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. A subcommittee of the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee voted this morning to move SB 245, which prohibits licensed health care providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy, to a full committee vote as soon as this Thursday. Casey Pick, The Trevor Project’s Senior Fellow for Advocacy and Government Affairs, was in Richmond this morning to testify before the subcommittee in favor of these vital protections. From her prepared remarks,…
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Advocacy

Roeland Park Becomes the First City in Kansas to Protect LGBTQ Youth From the Dangers of Conversion Therapy

Monday the Roeland Park City Council unanimously (7-0) passed a municipal ordinance to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy — making Roeland Park the first municipality in Kansas to pass such protections. The Trevor Project is proud to have worked with Equality Kansas to support this ordinance. Thomas Witt, the executive director of Equality Kansas said, “Equality Kansas has made tremendous progress fighting for non-discrimination and other LGBTQ protections across Kansas, and after introducing state-wide legislation to protect our youth from conversion therapy – this year – we could not be more excited to…
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Advocacy

Virginia Becomes the 20th State to Protect LGBTQ Youth From Conversion Therapy

On Monday, March 2nd, Virginia became the 20th state to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy as Governor Northam signed legislation prohibiting licensed medical professionals from practicing the widely discredited practice of conversion therapy on minors. The bill will go into effect on July 1, 2020. “As a survivor of this dangerous and fraudulent practice, I can’t fathom just how many young LGBTQ lives may be saved with these critical protections from conversion therapy. At The Trevor Project, we hear from LGBTQ youth in crisis every day and we know that those who are subjected to conversion therapy are more…
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Advocacy

Conversion Therapy: What’s Happening in 2020?

Since 2012, 18 states and the District of Columbia have acted to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy — with Utah poised to become the 19th state in the coming weeks. That momentum looks to continue in 2020: the states of Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia have already filed such bills for the 2020 legislative session, with Oklahoma, Minnesota, and others preparing to take action before the sessions begin. According to The Trevor Project’s research, LGBTQ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide…