Biden signs executive order to crack down on conversion therapy combat harmful state laws
June 19, 2022 | District of Columbia
President Joe Biden signed an executive order seeking to stamp out a practice critics refer to as “conversion therapy” and circumvent state laws that he characterizes as hostile to LGBT rights, sparking divergent reactions from religious freedom advocacy groups and LGBT activists.
Biden issued an “Executive Order on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Individuals” Wednesday at the White House, marking the middle of the month LGBT activists recognize as “pride month.”
The executive order calls on the administration to “safeguard LGBTQI+ youth from dangerous practices like so-called ‘conversion therapy’ — efforts to suppress or change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
The American Psychological Association defines conversion therapy as “counseling and psychotherapy to attempt to eliminate individuals’ sexual desires for members of their own sex.” The association criticizes “ex-gay” ministries and “religious groups that use religion to attempt to eliminate those desires.”
Critics of “conversion therapy” bans contend such policies prohibit licensed Christian counselors from counseling based on their religious beliefs to individuals experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion. … (Excerpt from The Christian Post)
