Legislation introduced to ban conversion therapy statewide

Yesterday, led by Senator Tim Carpenter and Rep. Lee Snodgrass, legislation was reintroduced in Madison that would ban the harmful practice of conversation therapy statewide. This comes just days after the Senate and Assembly both took up a bill blocking a state Department of Safety and Professional Standards rule that would have prohibited conversion therapy. Their decision to place the bill in committee is disheartening to say the least.

Milwaukee was the first city in Wisconsin to pass a conversation therapy ban in 2018 because the facts on conversation therapy are clear. Studies from the American Psychological Association report that “lifelong effects of conversion therapy include depression, suicidality, and substance abuse.” Conversion therapy can have wide-ranging harmful, lasting effects on individuals and has no place in Milwaukee, or any municipality in Wisconsin.

Since then, the practice has been banned in 11 other municipalities and is also banned in 20 states across the county. It is long past due for Wisconsin to join that list.

Senator Carpenter said it best yesterday, “It is only by accepting each other for who we are, and taking actions to help individual Wisconsinites reach their full potential, that our state will be able to reach its full potential.”

We couldn’t agree more, and will continue to fight for this practice to be banned statewide.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.