A list of states, cities and counties in the United States banning sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (conversion therapy) is below.
All bans, except for New York City's (and Washington, D.C.'s pending review), are limited to such therapy for minors.
Background edit
Conversion therapy is aimed at changing one's sexual orientation or gender identity. This practice is not backed by scientists, and there is no reliable evidence that the sexual orientation of a person can be changed. Nevertheless, some advocates of this practice provide anecdotal reports of people who claim some degree of success in becoming heterosexual.
Researches have found that LGBT people who undergo conversion therapy are significantly more likely to become ashamed, fearful, depressed, and suicidal. Many of the major health organizations across the U.S. and the world, including the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association, have condemned the practice and found it harmful. As a result, a growing number of jurisdictions across the United States have enacted laws and ordinances prohibiting mental health professionals from providing conversion therapies for minors.
The first U.S. state to ban conversion therapy for minors was California, which did so in 2012 (although New Jersey's ban took effect a few days before California's). Many other jurisdictions have since followed suit, as currently fifteen states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and numerous cities and counties, ban therapists from attempting to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor.
States edit
| # | State | Date of enactment | Date effective | Legalization method | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  New Jersey
|
August 19, 2013 | August 19, 2013 | Legislative statute | On June 24, 2013, the New Jersey General Assembly voted 56–14 in favor of AB 3371. On June 27, 2013, the New Jersey Senate voted 28–9 to pass the bill. On August 19, 2013, Governor Chris Christie (R) signed AB 3371 into law, and it took effect the same day. |
| 2. |  California
|
September 30, 2012 | August 29, 2013 | Legislative statute | On May 30, 2012, the California State Senate voted 23–13 in favor of SB 1172. On August 28, 2012, the California State Assembly voted 52–22 to pass the bill. On September 30, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed the bill into law, and it was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013. However, on December 21, 2012, in the case of Welch v. Brown, Judge William B. Shubb granted a preliminary injunction to SB 1172 from going into effect. On August 29, 2013, in the case of Pickup v. Brown and Welch v. Brown, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld SB 1172 and reversed the lower court order granting a preliminary injunction. |
| 3. |  Oregon
|
May 18, 2015 | May 18, 2015 | Legislative statute | On March 17, 2015, the Oregon House of Representatives voted 41–18 in favor of HB 2307. On May 7, 2015, the Oregon State Senate voted 21–8 to pass the bill. On May 18, 2015, Governor Kate Brown (D) signed HB 2307 into law, and it took effect the same day. |
| 4. |  Illinois
|
August 20, 2015 | January 1, 2016 | Legislative statute | On May 19, 2015, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 68–43 in favor of HB 217. On May 29, 2015, the Illinois Senate voted 34–19 to pass the bill. On August 20, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed HB 217 into law, and it went into effect on January 1, 2016. |
| 5. |  Vermont
|
May 25, 2016 | July 1, 2016 | Legislative statute | On March 17, 2016, the Vermont Senate voted unanimously in favor of S.132. On April 26, 2016, the Vermont House of Representatives approved the bill with amendments. The Senate concurred with the amendments three days later. On May 25, 2016, Governor Peter Shumlin (D) signed S.132 into law, and it went into effect on July 1, 2016. |
| 6. |  New Mexico
|
April 7, 2017 | April 7, 2017 | Legislative statute | On February 16, 2017, the New Mexico Senate voted 32–6 in favor of SB 121. On March 15, 2017, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted 44–23 to pass the bill. On April 7, 2017, Governor Susana Martinez (R) signed SB 121 into law, and it took effect the same day. |
| 7. |  Connecticut
|
May 10, 2017 | May 10, 2017 | Legislative statute | On May 2, 2017, the Connecticut House of Representatives voted 141–8 in favor of HB 6695. On May 10, 2017, the Connecticut Senate approved the bill in a unanimous 36–0 vote. Governor Dannel Malloy (D) signed HB 6695 into law the same day, and it took effect immediately. |
| 8. |  Rhode Island
|
July 19, 2017 | July 19, 2017 | Legislative statute | On May 30, 2017, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted in favor of H 5277 in a unanimous 69–0 vote. On June 30, 2017, the Rhode Island Senate approved the bill in a unanimous 29–0 vote. On July 19, 2017, Governor Gina Raimondo (D) signed H 5277 into law, and it took effect the same day. |
| 9. |  Nevada
|
May 17, 2017 | January 1, 2018 | Legislative statute | On April 4, 2017, the Nevada Senate voted 15–5 in favor of SB 201. On May 9, 2017, the Nevada Assembly approved the bill with amendments in a 31–8 vote. The Senate concurred with the amendments on the same day. On May 17, 2017, Governor Brian Sandoval (R) signed SB 201 into law, and it went into effect on January 1, 2018. |
| 10. |  Washington
|
March 28, 2018 | June 7, 2018 | Legislative statute | On January 19, 2018, the Washington State Senate voted 32–16 in favor of SB 5722. On February 28, 2018, the Washington House of Representatives approved the bill with amendments in a 66–32 vote. The Senate concurred with the amendments three days later. On March 28, 2018, Governor Jay Inslee (D) signed SB 5722 into law, and it went into effect on June 7, 2018. |
| 11. |  Hawaii
|
May 25, 2018 | July 1, 2018 | Legislative statute | On March 6, 2018, the Hawaii Senate voted 24–1 in favor of SB 270. On April 10, 2018, the Hawaii House of Representatives approved the bill with amendments in a 49–2 vote. A conference committee of both houses concluded on April 27, 2018 with an amended bill. It was approved by both houses four days later. On May 25, 2018, Governor David Ige (D) signed SB 270 into law, and it went into effect on July 1, 2018. |
| 12. |  Delaware
|
July 23, 2018 | July 23, 2018 | Legislative statute | On May 17, 2017, the Delaware Senate voted 12–3 in favor of SB 65. On June 7, 2018, the Delaware House of Representatives voted 24–14 to pass the bill. On July 23, 2018, Governor John Carney (D) signed SB 65 into law, and it took effect the same day. |
| 13. |  Maryland
|
May 15, 2018 | October 1, 2018 | Legislative statute | On March 27, 2018, the Maryland Senate voted 34–12 in favor of SB 1028. On April 4, 2018, the Maryland House of Delegates voted 95–27 to pass the bill. On May 15, 2018, Governor Larry Hogan (R) signed SB 1028 into law, and it went into effect on October 1, 2018. |
| 14. |  New Hampshire
|
June 8, 2018 | January 1, 2019 | Legislative statute | On February 8, 2018, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 179–171 in favor of HB 587. On April 19, 2018, the New Hampshire Senate approved the bill with amendments in a 14–10 vote. The House concurred with the amendments on May 10, 2018. Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed HB 587 into law on June 8, 2018, and it went into effect on January 1, 2019. |
| 15. |  New York
|
January 25, 2019 | January 25, 2019 | Legislative statute | On January 15, 2019, the New York State Assembly voted 141–7 in favor of A576. On the same day, the New York State Senate voted 57–4 to pass the bill. On January 25, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed A576 into law, and it took effect the same day. Since 2016, conversion therapy has been banned in New York from coverage by insurers and Medicaid, or from being practiced by any state-licensed or operated mental health facility, per executive order. |