Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed a
bill into law which prohibits therapies that attempt to alter the
sexuality or gender identity of LGBT youth.
Brown, the nation's first openly
bisexual governor, signed the bill on Monday. A signing ceremony is
planned for Thursday, the AP reported.
Oregon is the third state behind
California and New Jersey, plus the District of Columbia, to outlaw
such therapies.
Opponents have challenged similar laws
in California and New Jersey. But the U.S. Supreme Court has refused
to review lower court decisions upholding the bans.
(Related: Supreme
Court won't hear challenge to New Jersey's ban on “ex-gay”
therapy to minors.)
After the bill cleared the Senate
earlier this month, Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate,
said that HRC will continue to push for similar therapy bans in other
states.
“Psychological abuse has no place in
therapy, no matter the intention,” Warbelow
said. “While the LGBT youth in Oregon will soon be protected
once this bill is signed into law, HRC and our allies are committed
to making sure these kinds of protections are secured in every
state.”
(Related: Federal
bill seeks to ban LGBT conversion therapy.)