Youth's Lives Every Day
15% of LGBTQ youth in Michigan reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy in the past year
June 27, 2023 — The Trevor Project — the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people — celebrated the passage of H.B. 4616 and H.B. 4617 in the Michigan Senate today, which would prohibit licensed medical professionals from subjecting LGBTQ youth to the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion “therapy.” The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.
“LGBTQ young people deserve to live authentically as who they are and the passage of these bills profoundly reaffirms this fundamental value and serves as a beacon of hope for LGBTQ young people in Michigan and beyond. We applaud the state lawmakers for taking swift action in implementing these protections and building on the incredible bipartisan momentum of similar advances this year like in Minnesota to eliminate the harms of conversion ‘therapy’ nationwide,” said Kasey Suffredini (he/him), Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. “This milestone would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of our partners at Equality Michigan and Human Rights Campaign and the leadership of pro-equality legislators and advocates across the state.”
Relevant Research:
- According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by State, 45% of LGBTQ youth in Michigan seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 52% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Additionally, 15% of LGBTQ youth in Michigan reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy.
- Further, a peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project published in the American Journal of Public Health found that LGBTQ youth who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year.
- A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics found the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth, and its associated harms – such as substance abuse and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts – cost the U.S. an estimated $9.23 billion, annually.
For journalists looking to learn more about how to cover the issue of conversion therapy, here is a guide on best practices.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting 678678.