Obama Supports Ban on ‘Conversion Therapy’ Practice
On Wednesday, President Obama voiced support for banning the practice of "conversion therapy" aimed at changing the gender identity or sexual orientation of gay, lesbian and transgender youth, noting that he will support state-level measures to ban the practice. The administration's announcement comes in response to a petition signed by more than 120,000 people following the suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender youth, who in her suicide note indicated she had been subjected to conversion therapy and condemned the practice
- "Obama Calls for End to Gay 'Conversion' Therapy for Youth" (Pace, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 4/9).
- "White House Condemns Therapy To 'Cure' Gay Youth" (Somashekhar/Eilperin, "Post Nation," Washington Post, 4/8).
- "Obama To Call for End to 'Conversion' Therapies for Gay and Transgender Youth" (Shear, New York Times, 4/8).