Governor Hassan Urges New Hampshire State Senate to Pass Bill Banning "Conversion Therapy"

Press Release

As part of her efforts to continue New Hampshire's longstanding tradition of inclusion and ensuring that the rights of all citizens are protected, Governor Maggie Hassan today sent a letter to Senate President Chuck Morse and members of the Senate urging support for House Bill 1661, relative to conversion therapy seeking to change a person's sexual orientation.

"I am incredibly proud of New Hampshire's history of continually making progress to fully include and protect the rights of all of our citizens," Governor Hassan wrote. "The dangerous practice of conversion therapy, also known as "reparative therapy" has been extensively studied, opposed, and discredited by a wide-range of American medical and mental health organizations."

House Bill 1661 would ban "conversion therapy" for individuals under 18 years old. The American Psychiatric Association has found that there are many potential risks of reparative therapy, including depressing anxiety and self-destructive behavior.

"LGBT youth are already at an increased risk for suicide, depression, and harmful behaviors, and studies have made clear that conversion therapy could potentially increase those risks," Governor Hassan wrote. "Passing this legislation will send an important message to our young people that they can be who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."

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