NEW YORK: Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Take Executive Action Against Ex-Gay Torture, Three Agencies Involved

Huge news today in New York state! From the HRC:

Under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership, the New York State Department of Financial Services will issue regulations prohibiting insurance providers from covering conversion therapy on patients under the age of 18. The New York State Office of Mental Health will prohibit mental health providers from using conversion therapy on youth under the age of 18, and violations of these important protections will result in revocation of licenses. The New York State Department of Health will also take separate action to declare the abusive practice is not covered by the New York State Medicaid plan since it is never medically necessary care.

From Gov. Cuomo:

“Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice that is counter to everything this state stands for. New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades – and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example. We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are.”

Ex-gay torture is currently banned in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and in the cities of Washington DC and Cincinnati.