TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Legislation filed for the 2018 session would ban use of the controversial practice known as “conversion therapy” on minors in Florida.
Conversion therapy is a practice in which a doctor or therapist attempts to change the sexual orientation of a person, often through prayer and counseling.
Bill sponsor Evan Jenne says that most reputable psychiatric groups oppose the practice, but some therapists are still using it.
Jenne feels conversion therapy may give a false sense of hope to some parents who are in denial that their children are gay. He says it hurts everyone involved, especially the kids.
“They were gay when then went to conversion therapy. Some of them lied to themselves and to others, just to get out of it and said that they weren’t," said State Rep. Jenne, D- Dania Beach. "But, today they are all proud and out and openly gay. I’ve never met anyone that’s said that it worked.”
According to Jenne, at least nine other states have already outlawed conversion therapy.
Neither the House nor Senate version of the bill has been heard yet by a legislative committee, with just over four weeks left in the 2018 session.
