Pa. legislators aim to ban anti-gay conversion therapy

A Philadelphia-based state senator is pushing legislation to ban anti-gay conversion therapy.
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A group of Pennsylvania legislators is aiming to ban gay conversion therapy in the state.

Pennsylvania would become the third state in country, joining California and New Jersey, in banning the controversial technique used to reverse gay children’s sexual orientation.

State Sen. Anthony Williams (D, Philadelphia/Delaware) is among those leading the push in Harrisburg to ban conversion therapy. He has introduced a bill banning the anti-gay practice in the Pennsylvania Senate.

“When a child is at his or her most vulnerable stage in life, it is appalling to think that there are adults willing and too frequently able to destroy their sense of well-being,” Williams said in a statement. “That’s beyond wrong. As adults, we are charged to protect children, who come in all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations. By no means should we condone any activity that would demean them, particularly in this day and age.”

On Tuesday, state Reps. Brian Sims (D, Philadelphia) and Gerald Mullery (D, Luzerne) introduced similar legislation in the Pennsylvania House.