This week Delaware Gov. John Carney signed into law a statewide bill banning conversion “therapy.” Not only is this cruel practice to attempt to turn LGBTQ people into heterosexuals now illegal in Delaware, but mental-health professionals cannot refer minors out of state for it either.
Delaware becomes the 15th state, along with the District of Columbia, to ban conversion therapy. Pennsylvania is not among those 15 states and, despite having one of the country’s most progressive governors, a similar law is highly unlikely with our Republican-controlled legislature.
Conversion therapy is not actively practiced in Delaware, so why is it important to ban it? Beyond sending a message to young people that they are safe and complete just as they are, we live in a time where our hard-earned rights are in jeopardy. Nothing can be taken for granted. And the fact — stress on fact — is that science proves that conversion therapy is harmful and abusive.
One of the most dangerous ideas behind trying to convert young people into heterosexuals is that sexuality can be changed. Empirical, scientific evidence to the contrary appears to carry little weight with this presidential administration. We must recognize that only legislation can protect young people from the deliberate ignorance around LGBTQ people.
Delaware’s new law is another step in the direction toward equality — the notion that LGBTQ people have the right to pursue happiness in their lives just like anyone else.