NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senate Approves Ex-Gay Torture Ban With Backing Of Republican Majority Leader

The governor says she’ll sign it into law. The Concord Monitor reports:

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the state Senate reached an agreement late Thursday on a bill to ban gay conversion therapy on minors after a debate over religious freedom nearly derailed the effort.

“Who among us would want to be converted from the essence of who we are? I don’t think any of us would,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley said during debate.

Gay conversion therapy is the practice of trying to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity. Both the Senate and House have now approved a bill barring licensed counselors from engaging in the practice with anyone under age 18. The chambers passed bills including slightly different language, which means they’ll need to reach agreement before sending the legislation to Gov. Maggie Hassan’s desk.

Hassan, a Democrat, praised the Senate’s passage of the bill, saying it sends an important message to young people that they can be who they are.

Ex-gay torture bans are already in place in California, New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois, and in the cities of Cincinnati and Washington DC.  In February, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order banning the practice. The Liberty Counsel has failed to overturn these bans many times, including at the US Supreme Court. (Tipped by JMG reader Brendan)