Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin on
Wednesday signed a bill into law that prohibits therapies that
attempt to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT
youth.
According to NBC
affiliate WPTZ, the measure sailed through the General Assembly.
Shumlin, a Democrat, signed the bill on
the Statehouse steps.
“The practice is not only archaic,
but it's wrong,” he told reporters.
Chad Griffin, president of the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate,
applauded the move.
“No young person should be subjected
to this extremely harmful and discredited practice, which medical
professionals agree not only doesn't work, but can also have
life-threatening consequences. It is nothing short of child abuse. We
thank Governor Shumlin and the Vermont State Legislature for
prioritizing the well-being and safety of our nation's youth, and
remain committed to working with our partners to ensure that this
quackery is banned from coast to coast,” Griffin said in a
statement.
Vermont joins California, New Jersey,
Oregon, Illinois, New York and the District of Columbia in banning
the practice. The
practice is also banned in Cincinnati. Vermont's law takes
effect July 1.