Hawaii on Friday became the 12th state in the U.S. to prohibit conversion therapy from being offered as an option to LGBTQ minors.
A law signed by Gov. David Ige prohibits psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and marriage/family therapists from offering conversion therapy to minors. It will go into effect on July 1, according to Hawaii News Now.
“Overwhelming scientific research has shown that ‘conversion therapy’ is not effective and frequently has lasting, harmful psychological impacts on minors,” Ige said in a statement. “This practice is neither medically or ethically appropriate.”
The new law also creates a sexual orientation task force to offer professional help to minors who are seeking counseling on sexual orientation-related issues.
Washington, D.C., and 11 other states that have laws or regulations that shield LGBTQ youths from conversion therapy, including California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
