LGBTQ rights are under attack right here in Massachusetts. There are 2 things that you can do to take action and defend those rights:
#1: Please reach out to your legislators and ask them to support H.1190 An Act relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors, otherwise known as the Conversion Therapy Ban Bill. This bill will ensure that state licensed mental health practitioners abide by professional standards of ethics and do not engage in damaging practices that have no scientific basis. Similar legislation has already become law in 11 other states. Massachusetts is falling behind in protecting our youth.
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation using psychological, spiritual and sometimes abusive interventions. There is virtually no reliable evidence that sexual orientation can be changed and medical bodies warn that conversion therapy practices are ineffective and seriously harmful.
We know that conversion therapy occurs in Massachusetts. Multiple youth-serving mental health care providers, health care providers, advocates and teachers hear heartbreaking stories from young people that they are being pushed into conversion therapy by their parents after finding the courage to come out to them.
#2: LGBTQ youth and adults are also at risk of losing basic human rights this fall. On November 6th, Massachusetts will be the first state in the country forced to defend basic protections for transgender people at the ballot box. AIDS Action Committee is proud to support Freedom for All Massachusetts, the broad coalition working to uphold these protections.
Please pledge to vote YES for Trans Rights this November to uphold MA’s non-discrimination law protecting transgender people from discrimination and defend their basic human right to exist in public places.
Take action today to let the LGBTQ community know that Massachusetts defends their rights, supports their equal freedoms, and will stand up to protect LGBTQ youth.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Carl Sciortino
AIDS Action Committee Executive Director