MAGA Christian Kentucky state Rep. David Hale (R) has introduced a bill to overturn Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears executive order banning conversion therapy, the widely discredited practice of trying to change someones sexual orientation or gender identity. Numerous witnesses spoke against the bill, but Hale said their testimony doesnt match his research he also declined to name the organizations who helped him craft his bills language.
In September 2024, Beshear signed an executive order outlawing conversion therapy in the state. His order prohibits any practice of the discredited therapy for minors, prevents state or federal funds from being used to pay for it, and suggests that state licensing boards for counselors consider disciplinary actions against its practitioners.
Conversion therapy has been banned in 23 states, and major U.S. medical and psychological associations have denounced such therapy as ineffective, unnecessary, and dangerous.
Lets be clear, Beshear said in a statement at the time of his orders signing, Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it has been shown to increase rates of suicide and depression. This is about doing what is right and protecting our children. Hate is not who we are as Kentuckians.
In mid-February, Hale introduced House Bill 495, a bill that would overturn Beshears executive order. Hale told a state House committee that his bill would protect counselors, therapists, and pastors providing therapy to minors from discriminatory actions by the government, The Kentucky Lantern reported. The bill would specifically protect mental health services seeking to relieve discomfort or distress caused by an individuals sex or romantic or sexual attraction.
Hale told the state Houses Standing Committee on State Government that his bill would empower parents to seek whatever kind of therapy best serves their childs needs. Hale also said a couple of organizations helped him write the legislation, but he refused to name them when asked.
The committees Republican members approved the bill in a 15-4 party-line vote, with some Republican members claiming that the bill would also protect mental health care professionals that would be pro-LGBTQ therapy or gender-affirming care.
In 2023, Kentucky Republicans overrode Beshears veto to pass a ban on gender-affirming medical care. While the ban has been paused amid court battles challenging its legality, the ban only prohibits medical care, not gender-affirming psychological counseling.
Despite Hales and Republicans justifications, numerous witnesses spoke against Hales bill in House floor hearings.
Eric Russ, a licensed clinical psychologist who is the executive director of the Kentucky Psychological Association, said the bill directly threatens the trust between a mental health provider and our clients by protecting people who administer the widely discredited practice.
Ordained minister Rev. Brandon Long told the hearing that he was forced into conversion therapy after coming out as gay and was told that his same-sex attraction was caused by childhood trauma, poor parenting, and demonic influence.
Conversion therapy weaponized222- sacred pastoral practices, he said. This is not pastoral care. It is spiritual and psychological abuse. Religious liberty is not absolute. It ends where harm begins. Thats why we do not allow human sacrifice or child marriage in worship.
Chris Hartman, executive director of the LGBTQ-rights group Fairness Campaign, asked why a committee dedicated to overseeing state government functions had passed a mental health bill.
During the hearing, Hale said he had found no evidence in his research reflecting the personal experiences of his bills opponents. After the committee voted to bring the bill one step closer to a state congressional vote for its possible passage, Hale went to shake hands with those who testified against the bill.
Rev. Long refused to shake his hand, telling Hale, You dont believe I exist.
Hes looking at us telling our stories, to then frame on the record that, I do not believe these individuals, Long said. In other words, they are lying. And that is of the utmost disrespect for ourselves, for our lives, for our experiences coming and putting it forth on the record.
In late 2019, Hale filed a transphobic bathroom bill that would allow K-12 students to sue if they encounter transgender classmates in a gendered school facility that does not match the trans students sex assigned to them at birth.
Hale said that allowing trans students in gendered school facilities disrupts school activities and creates unsafe conditions as well as potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury for cisgender students who have to see trans kids in various states of undress.
About 21% of LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky say theyve been threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy, according to the Trevor Project.
Republicans in the state legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, instituted a Dont Say Gay law for all grades in Kentuckys public schools, overcoming a veto by Gov. Beshear. With those veto-proof majorities, lawmakers in state House and Senate could put Beshears conversion therapy ban in jeopardy.
Conversion therapy is a fraud
A 2013 survey showed that 84% of former patients who tried ex-gay therapy said it inflicted lasting shame and emotional harm. Additionally, a March 2022 peer-reviewed study from The Trevor Project showed that 13% of LGBTQ+ youth nationwide had reported being subjected to conversion therapy. Of those, 83% were subjected to it before reaching the age of 18.
The 2022 study showed that young people who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide afterward. Numerous conversion therapy advocates have later come out as still gay and apologized for the harm that conversion therapy causes.
The methods of so-called conversion therapists include encouraging queer people not to masturbate, redirecting their sexual energy into exercise, covert aversion (a fancy name for imagining possible negative consequences of being queer), Bible study, directing same-sex sexual desire onto opposite-sex partners, inflicting pain and humiliation anytime LGBTQ+ feelings arise, and forcing people to act out stereotypical gender roles in behavior and personal appearance.
I'm impressed they managed to get a Dem gov.
Hale told a state House committee that his bill would protect counselors, therapists, and pastors providing therapy to minors from discriminatory actions by the government, The Kentucky Lantern reported.
I'm impressed they managed to get a Dem gov.
Where was gay conservatives mentioned here?Huh? They're voting for a party that hates them and are doing stuff like this. What do you think he meant? The story doesn't specifically need to mention them.
The committees Republican members approved the bill in a 15-4 party-line vote, with some Republican members claiming that the bill would also protect mental health care professionals that would be pro-LGBTQ therapy or gender-affirming care.The Republican said with a lying grin as the words began to burn his tongue for the correct terms but perceived wrongspeak.