The Maryland Senate on Wednesday
approved a bill that seeks to ban therapies that attempt to alter the
sexual orientation or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender youth.
Such therapies go by names such as
“conversion therapy,” “reparative therapy” or “ex-gay
therapy.”
According to the Washington Blade,
Senate Bill 1028 cleared the chamber with a 34-12 vote.
The bill was introduced February 8 by
Senator Rich Madaleno. Delegate Bonnie Cullison introduced an
identical bill in the Maryland House of Delegates on the same day.
Cullison and Madaleno, who
is running for governor, are openly gay.
“Conversion therapy denies young
people their humanity,” Madaleno
told the Blade.
“It is a cruel practice that has no basis in science: all it does
is create more harm and more anxiety for the young person.”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the
nation's largest LGBT rights advocate, called on the House of
Delegates “to swiftly pass this bill and send it to Gov. Larry
Hogan's desk for his signature.”
A spokesman for Hogan, a Republican,
has said he supports the legislation.
(Related: Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee signs bill banning “ex-gay” therapy to minors.)