Governor takes important step to protect Kentucky youth, fight discrimination

FRANKFORT, KY - On September 18, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order officially banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors in the state of Kentucky.

“Kentucky cannot possibly reach its full potential unless it is free from discrimination by or against any citizen - unless all our people feel welcome in our spaces, free from unjust barriers and supported to be themselves,” said Gov. Beshear. “Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it can cause significant long-term harm to our kids, including increased rates of suicide and depression. This is about protecting our youth from an inhumane practice that hurts them.”

The executive order signed by Gov. Beshear makes it illegal to use state or federal funds to provide conversion therapy on minors. It also gives licensing boards the authority to take disciplinary action against licensees found to have practiced conversion therapy on minors.

The practice of so-called “conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy” is particularly harmful to LGBTQ+ youth. The intent of this practice is to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and methods include aversion therapy, talk therapy, shaming and hypnosis, among other techniques. Conversion therapy rests on the premise that an LGBTQ+ individual’s identity is pathological and can be “repaired” or “fixed.” This false premise has no basis in medicine or science.

According to such organizations as the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association, the dangerous practice of conversion therapy can cause significant long-term harm to youth, including anxiety, depression, loss of social supports and suicidal behaviors.

In the 2023 survey by a nonprofit suicide prevention organization the Trevor Project, 15% of LGBTQ+ youth reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy. The same survey showed that youth who were subjected to conversion therapy reported more than twice the rate of suicide attempts in the past year compared with those who were not subjected to it.

The leading medical and mental health organizations in the United States oppose the practice of conversion therapy, including: the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the Kentucky Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers – Kentucky Chapter, the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, and the Fairness Campaign.

At least 23 states and the District of Columbia prohibit the use of conversion therapy with minors in some way, either through barring its agencies from spending state and federal dollars for conversion therapy with minors, or by making engaging in conversion therapy a prohibited act or unprofessional conduct for licensed practitioners and subjecting them to disciplinary action for violating the prohibition. Some of these states have acted through executive order, but many of them have passed bipartisan legislation to prohibit the harmful practice of conversion therapy.

“We applaud Gov. Andy Beshear for his bold and necessary action to protect Kentucky’s LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice of conversion therapy,” said Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign. “Today Gov. Beshear sends a crystal-clear message to all of Kentucky’s LGBTQ kids and their families - you are perfect as you are.”

“The KY Mental Health Coalition applauds Gov. Andy Beshear for issuing this executive order against conversion therapy. It is strong action that affirms our youth and protects them from this harm,” said executive director of the KY Mental Health Coalition, Dr. Sheila Schuster.

“NASW-KY is honored to be here today to celebrate Gov. Beshear’s executive order to protect the LGBTQ+ youth of Kentucky against the draconian and deadly practice of ‘conversation therapy,’ which is nothing more than physical, mental and emotional torture,” said Brenda Rosen, executive director of Kentucky’s chapter of the NASW. “We celebrate with individuals and communities across Kentucky and are eternally grateful that during September’s National Suicide and Prevention Month, Kentucky is powering forward to save the lives of our youth and ensuring that our LGBTQ+ citizens know they are loved and valued in the Bluegrass state. Thank you, Gov. Beshear, for your steadfast commitment to ensuring that Kentucky leads in compassion, kindness and integrity.”

“The widely discredited practice of ‘conversion therapy’ has no place in the mental health care of LGBTQ youth,” said KPA Executive Director Eric Russ. “This executive order from Gov. Beshear will save lives by preventing this so-called treatment from being inflicted on any more children in Kentucky.”

Gov. Beshear was the first sitting Governor in Kentucky’s history to participate in the Statewide Fairness Rally, and in 2021, he proclaimed June as Pride Month for the first time in the commonwealth. Last year, the Governor vetoed a bill that banned access to gender-affirming health care and restricted bathroom access. The supermajorities in both of Kentucky’s legislative chambers voted to override the veto.