Conversion Therapy: Why NY Governor Andrew Cuomo Says it Needs to be Banned

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that gay conversion therapy will be banned because it is a "hateful and flawed" practice.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York joins other states that have condemned and acted out against the controversial gay conversion therapy. In an announcement on Saturday, he placed an official ban on the therapy as well as hindering healthcare plan insurance to offer coverage for it. He also plans to remove it from NY's Office of Mental Health so that it cannot be offered to minors ages 18 and below.

"Conversion therapy is a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice that is counter to everything this state stands for," said Cuomo in a statement. "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."

According to the International Business Times, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) group and its President, Chad Griffin praised Cuomo's move and decision. The HRC is an LGBT civil rights organization which called the governor a "strong LGBT community ally."

"No young person should be coerced or subjected to this dangerous so-called therapy, which has been linked to youth substance abuse, depression, homelessness, and even suicide." Griffin said in a statement posted on the organization's official website. "With leaders like Governor Cuomo, we're on our way to putting an end to this horrible practice."

Conversion therapy, which is also known as reparative therapy, is a treatment that tries to change a person's sexual orientation. It aims to turn LGBT people into "straight" or heterosexual people, according to the National Center for Lesbian Rights. There are many ways that Conversion therapy is harmful. It can cause depression, shame, disappointment, self-blame, and increased self-hatred among others.

Government agencies including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); the American Counseling Association; the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Associations have renounced such practices as it is not a "scientifically validated treatment."

"Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming," says Dr. Warren Seigel of the NY State Academy of Pediatrics, in a press release.

He adds that the AAP and other scientific and mental health practitioners have known this for almost four decades. Dr. Seigel also commends Gov. Cuomo for his decision regarding the issue.

Other states have banned conversion therapy on minors include New Jersey, California, Illinois, and Oregon.