SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 6, 2015)—The American Bar Association this week passed a resolution calling on federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to enact laws prohibiting state-licensed professionals from subjecting LGBTQ minors to conversion therapy and to protect all youth in their care from these dangerous and discredited practices.
NCLR #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator Sam Ames said: “The American Bar Association and the nearly 400,000 lawyers it represents made history by taking a stand against the dangerous and scientifically discredited practices of conversion therapy. We are elated that the ABA has affirmed its commitment to fight for the full equality of the most vulnerable among us by joining mental health professionals, faith leaders, youth advocates, and civil rights organizations across the country in pledging to use their power to protect the physical, mental, and emotional safety of the next generation of LGBTQ youth. NCLR is honored to have worked with the ABA on this lifesaving resolution that brings us one step close to the day all children know they were born perfect.”
NCLR has been at the forefront of efforts to protect youth and their families from conversion therapy for more than two decades and, alongside the Human Rights Campaign and state equality groups, has helped pass legislation in California, New Jersey, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. NCLR launched its #BornPerfect campaign last year to stop conversion therapy across the country by 2019 by passing laws, fighting in courtrooms, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by attempts to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Born Perfect is a survivor-led campaign to end conversion therapy created by The National Center for Lesbian Rights, a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.