1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Ban conversion therapy in our state. This practice — which attempts to change a young person's sexual orientation or gender identity — has been condemned by every major medical and psychiatric organization in the country, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. It doesn't work, and it causes serious, documented harm to children. Young people subjected to conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. That's not a side effect — that's the outcome. No parent should have to watch their child be psychologically damaged by a practice that has no legitimate medical basis. Dozens of states and hundreds of municipalities have already acted. It's time to pass a ban here and make clear that this state will not allow licensed practitioners to abuse children under the guise of therapy.