Maryland Senate advances ban on conversion therapy for LGBT youth

After a lengthy debate across a partisan divide, the Maryland Senate advanced a bill on Tuesday that would make it illegal for licensed mental health professionals to offer therapy to minors that is intended to change one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Senate took the rare step of taking a vote on whether to move the bill forward for final approval, and only the chamber’s 14 Republicans opposed it.

Many of them called the legislation unclear and too broad, suggesting it could discourage therapists or social workers from treating lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender youth.

Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire, an Anne Arundel County Republican, said the legislation is flawed because “if you truly believe this is child abuse, you’d say child abuse should never occur.”

Read more: http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/government/bs-md-conversion-therapy-20180327-story.html