North Carolina outlaws official funding for ‘gay conversion therapy’

‘These practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ+ young people’

Most US states do not prohibit the debunked practice (Getty iStock)

North Carolina has banned the use of state and federal funds for children’s LGBT+ conversion therapy.

Doctors say the techniques, which try to change someone’s sexual orientation through psychological means and even electroshocks, is scientifically dubious and possibly dangerous.

“Conversion therapy has been shown to pose serious health risks, and we should be protecting all of our children, including those who identify as LGBT+, instead of subjecting them to a dangerous practice,” said Roy Cooper, the state’s governor.

“Today I signed Executive Order No. 97 to help protect LGBT+ children in North Carolina from the harmful practice of conversion therapy.”

The bill only applies to conversion therapy for children and does not affect adult therapies.

North Carolina is the 19th state to place restrictions on the practice, according to the Movement Advancement Project. It is the third to do so in the southern US.

Delaware, which is also in the region, reportedly passed a bill in 2018.

The Delaware law prohibits licenced mental health professionals from carrying out conversion therapy on children.

Maryland, considered by some to be in the southern US, banned the practice completely last year.

But 31 states across the US have no laws prohibiting or restricting conversion therapy, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

“The executive action, signed by governor Cooper, restricting the use of public funds to support the dangerous, debunked practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is an important step forward in North Carolina,” said JoDee Winterhof, senior vice president for policy and political affairs at the HRC.

“We look forward to working alongside our partners to pass a law -- similar to those enacted in 18 other states -- that would cover all state-licensed professionals working with minors.

“For North Carolina to be a leader in the South, the governor and the legislature must prioritise full LGBTQ equality.”

“There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression,” an HRC spokesperson added.

“To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBT+ young people resulting in depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and suicidal behaviour.

“The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organisation, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.”