INDIANAPOLIS — Two Democrats have introduced proposals to ban conversion therapy in Indiana.
Conversion therapy, according to GLAAD, is an attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Dozens of medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the World Health Organization have denounced conversion therapy.
Sen. JD Ford, D-Indianapolis, and Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, have introduced similar bills in both chambers to ban the practice in Indiana.
"Putting a stop to this harmful and detrimental practice can save the lives of countless LGBTQ Hoosiers,” Ford said. “Our state has the chance to end this harmful and detrimental practice this year. A person's sexual orientation or gender identity is not a disease that needs cured.”
A similar bill was filed in the 2019 session, but it didn’t get a hearing.
Twenty states in the country have banned conversion therapy, including Illinois.
“Most Hoosiers have never heard of ‘conversion therapy’ or think that it doesn't happen here, but it does. I personally know some of my constituents were subjected to ‘conversion therapy’ as children and are concerned about its use on young people today,” Errington said via a release. “Last summer, a transgender friend of mine from Delaware County reached out to me and asked me to help end ‘conversion therapy’ in Indiana. Her plea prompted me to introduce House Bill 1213, which would end the use of this discredited practice and protect Hoosiers who are born as LGBTQ.”
