Senate Votes to Prevent Practice of Discredited “Conversion Therapy” in Connecticut

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Senate Votes to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ in Connecticut

Photo of Governor Malloy signing the conversion therapy bill.

Governor Dannel Malloy signs House Bill 6695 into law minutes after it was passed in the State Senate as legislators and advocates look on.

Senate Democrats today led the overwhelming and bipartisan passage in the state Senate of a bill that would prohibit the practice of “conversion therapy” in Connecticut, a discredited practice in which a health care provider attempts to counsel and change a minor’s sexual orientation.

The bill passed the Senate today on a unanimous bipartisan vote and was immediately transmitted to Governor Malloy’s office for his signature. The bill passed the state House of Representatives last week on a bipartisan and overwhelming 141-8 vote.

“Gay conversion therapy targeted at minors and children is a cruel and dangerous practice which can have long lasting consequences,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “LGBTQ youth aren’t broken and don’t need to be fixed; they need our love and acceptance. Today’s vote in the Senate will ensure that this practice has no place in Connecticut.”

“Connecticut has always been a leader on issues of equality,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “It is important that we sent a strong message by passing this legislation banning “conversion therapy”, a discredited practice designed to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

House Bill 6695 prohibits health care providers or anyone “conducting trade or commerce” in Connecticut from practicing or administering “conversion therapy,” which is generally defined as any practice or treatment that seeks to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill specifies certain types of counseling that are not considered conversion therapy, such as counseling that is intended to assist a person undergoing gender transition.

“At its most basic level this bill helps support the emotional and physical health of young people who are going through a very difficult time in their lives, discovering their sexuality and coming to terms with that in a society which—even in 2017—is not always as accepting as it should be of America’s LBGTQ citizens. So it holds licensed professionals and others to a very high standard of behavior,” said Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford), a co-sponsor of the bill who led the Senate debate on the issue. “I think more importantly, this bill sends the message that homosexuality is not wrong, there is nothing to ‘fix.’ Hundreds of professional medical organizations have determined that, and our U.S. Supreme Court even ruled last week that there is no religious grounds for conversion therapy. So today was a big step forward for Connecticut in the arena of civil rights, and I am thankful to my Democratic and Republican colleagues for their overwhelming support of this bill. I think young people should take some comfort in the fact that both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, people who are sometimes on the opposite sides of an issue, joined together today to support this bill and to support the teenagers who we seek to serve.”

Under the bill, if any health care provider in Connecticut did engage in conversion therapy, it would be considered unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action. If anyone practiced conversion therapy while conducting trade or commerce, it would be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice. The bill also prohibits public funds from being spent on conversion therapy or any related actions.

Flexer Applauds Final Passage of Bill Banning Conversion Therapy on Minors

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Flexer Applauds Final Passage of Bill Banning Conversion Therapy on Minors

State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) released the following statement after the Senate granted final passage to a bill banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors in the State of Connecticut:

“I am extremely pleased by the passage of this legislation, which will ban the discredited practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ on children in our state. A person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not something that needs to be ‘fixed,’ it is a part of who they are as individuals and I am proud that the State of Connecticut has passed this law to protecting our LGBTQ youth from this dangerous practice that has lasting consequences to a person’s mental health. This legislation sends a strong message about our values as a state. My only disappointment is that a bill seeking to protect children from this abusive practice failed to pass unanimously.”

House Bill 6695, An Act Concerning The Protection Of Youth From Conversion Therapy, passed the Senate in a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

It earlier passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 141 to eight.

The bill goes next to the desk of Governor Dannel Malloy who has pledged to sign the legislation into law.

This bill prohibits health care providers, or anyone else engaged in trade or commerce, from engaging in “conversion therapy” which is described as any practice or treatment administered to a minor that seeks to change the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The practice has been condemned by a number of groups including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Organization.

Winfield Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Winfield Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) today joined the bipartisan and unanimous passage in the state Senate of a bill that prohibits the practice of “conversion therapy” in Connecticut, a discredited practice in which a health care provider attempts to counsel and change a minor’s sexual orientation.

The bill passed the Senate on a 36-0 bipartisan and unanimous vote after passing the state House of Representatives last week on a bipartisan and overwhelming 141-8 vote. The bill was immediately transmitted today to Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who signed the bill into law at his Capitol desk. The measure takes effect immediately.

Moore Applauds Passage of Bill Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Harmful Conversion Therapy Practices

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Moore Applauds Passage of Bill Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Harmful Conversion Therapy Practices

Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) Wednesday celebrated the unanimous bipartisan passage of a bill that protects LGBTQ youth in Connecticut from the discredited practice of conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is either psychological or spiritual counseling designed to change a person’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual. House Bill 6695 bans health care providers from practicing conversion therapy on anyone under the age of 18. Violations would be punishable by suspension or revocation of the professional’s license, certification or registration to practice.

“Connecticut is a state that welcomes and embraces people of all sexual orientations and we pride ourselves on a long history of supporting equality for members of the LGBTQ community. Sexual orientation is not an illness and should never be treated as such,” said Sen. Moore, a member of the Public Health Committee. “I applaud my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle for standing up for LGBTQ youth today and passing this bill. It’s always a great day at the Capitol when we can come together to achieve something that moves us toward being a more inclusive state where all people are treated as equals.”

Moore first voted in favor of the bill when it passed unanimously in the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee on March 24.

The bill provides that:

Engaging in conversion therapy is an unfair trade practice.
If a health care provider engages in such therapy, it is considered unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action.
Prohibits public funds from being spent for conversion therapy, insurance coverage for such therapy or related actions.

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services agrees there is no evidence that supports the effectiveness of conversion therapy. However, there is evidence that conversion therapy causes depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) opposes psychiatric treatment based upon the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder or that a patient should change his/her sexual orientation.

The APA describes attempts to change sexual orientation by practitioners as unethical. There is no evidence that conversion therapy can alter sexual orientation and, in fact, the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry and the National Association of Social Workers have also taken the position that this form of “therapy” is not only ineffective, it is ill-advised as it may cause depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior. The DMHAS service system offers mental health treatment supported by informed standards of care and best practices for adults 18 and older. DMHAS also supports evidence-based mental health promotion programming across a person’s lifespan. DMHAS supports the position of the APA that conversion therapy has no place in the clinical relationship between therapists and patients.

This bill, which prohibits health care providers or anyone else engaged in trade or commerce from providing conversion therapy, is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact to the state or municipalities. It is expected that there will be few to no violations of this prohibition and that the Departments of Public Health and Consumer Protection will not generate revenue through the imposition of fines on violators.

The bill, which passed in the House of Representatives on May 2 on a vote of 141 to eight, goes next to the desk of Governor Dannel Malloy who has pledged to sign the legislation into law.

Senate Votes to Prevent Practice of Discredited “Conversion Therapy” in Connecticut

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Senate Votes to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ in Connecticut

Governor Dannel Malloy signs House Bill 6695 into law minutes after it was passed in the State Senate as legislators and advocates look on.

Osten Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Osten Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today joined the bipartisan and unanimous passage in the state Senate of a bill that prohibits the practice of “conversion therapy” in Connecticut, a discredited practice in which a health care provider attempts to counsel and change a minor’s sexual orientation.

“This whole practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ has been conclusively debunked by scientists as not really a therapy at all, and leading to more harm than help,” Sen. Osten said. “It’s good for Connecticut to outlaw this practice not only on the basis that it’s a sham health care service, but also because of the negative message it sends to gay and lesbian teenagers, that somehow their sexuality is not normal and needs to be corrected. I mean, it’s 2017; it’s outrageous that something like conversion therapy is even going on and that we have to make public policy to prohibit something like that.”

Fonfara Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Webmaster

Fonfara Joins Unanimous and Bipartisan Senate Passage of Bill to Prevent Practice of Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy’ In Connecticut

Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford) today joined the bipartisan and unanimous passage in the state Senate of a bill that prohibits the practice of “conversion therapy” in Connecticut, a discredited practice in which a health care provider attempts to counsel and change a minor’s sexual orientation.

Senator Winfield in the News: Democratic Lawmakers Defend Citizens Election Program

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Webmaster

Democratic Lawmakers Defend Citizens Election Program

Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, said the Citizens Election Program is more important than the way that they talk about it.

He said when he first ran for office he wasn’t able to run because he had good ideas. He was able to run because there was a system that allowed him to participate.

Read the full article at the CT News Junkie.

Female Legislators Champion Strengthened Workplace Protections for Pregnant Wome

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Webmaster

Female Legislators Champion Strengthened Workplace Protections for Pregnant Women

House expected to vote this week on Labor Committee bill

State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson), State Representatives Liz Linehan (D-Cheshire) and Robyn Porter (D-New Haven) held a press conference today in support of legislation strengthening workplace protections for pregnant women.

H.B. 6668, An Act Concerning Pregnant Women In The Workplace, was introduced by Sen. Flexer, and Reps. Conley, Linehan, Luxenberg, McCarthy Vahey, Porter and Simmons. The bill is expected to be brought up in a House session this week.

The bill strengthens current protections for pregnant women under the state’s anti-discrimination law. Under the legislation, employers would be required to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, such as being allowed to sit while working or taking more frequent breaks.

It would also prohibit limiting or segregating an employee in a way that would deny her employment opportunities due to her pregnancy and forcing a pregnant employee to accept an accommodation if she does not need one.

“It’s unfortunate that in 2017 women, who make up nearly 50 percent of the workforce in Connecticut, are still not treated equally in the workplace. We have seen time and again how pregnancy has led to discrimination which has a negative impact on women’s careers, including our pay and opportunities for advancement, and it is imperative that we strengthen protections for women to combat this type of unfair treatment that has serious socioeconomic ramifications,” said Sen. Flexer.

“No woman should face discrimination at work because she chooses to start a family, yet in 2017 the way we treat pregnancy continues to be a barrier to women’s advancement,” Rep. Linehan said. “It’s not just women who are affected by the loss of wages or missed opportunities—it’s their families, the children they support, and our economy. Workplace protections for pregnant women benefit employers by reducing turnover, increasing employee morale and productivity, and reducing workers’ compensation costs. A strong economy requires the full workforce participation of women, and we all lose when women are left behind or sidelined in the workplace because of a pregnancy.”

“No woman should ever have to choose between pursuing a career and having a family. That is why I stand in staunch support of H.B. 6668, which will strengthen the workplace rights for pregnant women and allow them to have the best of both worlds,” said Rep. Porter.
18 other states have enacted similar legislation with bipartisan support, including Vermont, which passed legislation Friday strengthening workplace protections for pregnant women.

Lawmakers Vow to Protect Citizen’s Election Program

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Webmaster

Lawmakers Vow to Protect Citizen’s Election Program

State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson), State Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), State Representative Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and a coalition of Democratic lawmakers and activists Tuesday pledged to protect the state’s Citizen’s Elections Program (CEP), which Republicans axed in their budget proposal for the next biennium.

The program, under which Flexer, Winfield and Lesser were able to run for office, was created in 2005 in the wake of Republican Governor John Rowland’s arrest on corruption charges. The program enables candidates to gather small campaign contributions of between $5 and $100 in order to qualify for a larger grant. The program was designed lessen the impact of dark money and limit the impact of large, single donors.

“The Citizen’s Election Program has changed the way the Connecticut General Assembly functions and has made it possible for candidates with good ideas to run to represent their communities without being connected to big money or special interests. It absolutely must be defended,” said Sen. Flexer. “There are dozens, if not hundreds, of bills that have been passed since this program was put into place that would never have passed under the old system when lobbyists and special interests had the influence to kill good legislation. Getting rid of the CEP would be a huge step backward for our state.”

“This opened up politics to people who didn’t have access before the CEP, both the candidates running for office and for people in the community who now have more of an influence in those elections.” Sen. Winfield said. “What we’re defending here today is not ourselves, but the ability of others to enter, to access, and to participate in this system.”

“We sometimes have amnesia in this building because not too long ago Connecticut had a deplorable reputation across the country for a culture of corruption. They called the state ‘Corrupt-i-cut.’ Politicians of both parties—legislators, mayors and a governor—went to prison and on a bipartisan basis Democrats and Republicans in this building decided that money and politics was the chief source of corruption and enacted the Citizens Election Program, not funded by taxpayer dollars but by small contributions to reduce the influence of money on politics. And it’s been a fantastic success,” Rep. Lesser said.