FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday banned the use of “conversion therapy” on minors in Kentucky, calling his executive order a long-overdue step to protect children from a widely discredited practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling.
The governor used his executive powers after attempts to pass a state law banning the practice repeatedly failed in the state’s Republican-dominated legislature.
“My faith teaches me that all children are children of God,” Beshear said during the signing ceremony at the Kentucky Statehouse. “And where practices endanger and even harm these children, we must act. The practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ harms our children.”
As Beshear prepared to sign the order, someone shouted out their opposition: “This is a rejection of affirmation therapy.” Mental health and LGBTQ+ rights activists drowned out the protest with cheers.
The Family Foundation, a Kentucky-based social conservative group, immediately condemned Beshear’s actions, saying they violated parents’ rights and suppressed free religious expression.
“This order, like previous failed legislative efforts, aims to promote false LGBTQ ideologies and prevent Christian counselors, therapists and pastors from helping children struggling with confusion about their sexual orientation or gender identity,” David Walls, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.
Beshear expected such attacks and said he did not want to “impose an ideology on anyone” with his action.
“It simply stops a so-called ‘therapy’ that the medical community says is wrong and is harming our children,” the governor said.
The executive order signed by Beshear bans the practice and makes it illegal to use state or federal funds to conduct the therapy on minors. It also gives the state licensing board the authority to take action against anyone who conducts conversion therapy on minors and gives the board the power to take disciplinary action against anyone who violates the order.
Such therapy has fallen into disrepute and is rejected by the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, among others, on the grounds that studies show that it leads to an increased risk of suicide and depression.
Nearly half of all states and the District of Columbia prohibit the use of conversion therapy on minors, Beshear’s office said.
Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, a Kentucky-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group, praised Beshear for his bold action to protect Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ youth from what he says is the harmful practice of conversion therapy. He said the governor’s actions send a clear message to Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ children and their families: “You are perfect just the way you are.”
