Youth's Lives Every Day
15% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy in the past year
April 27, 2023 — The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people, commended Gov. Walz for signing SF 23 today, which would prohibit licensed medical professionals from subjecting LGBTQ youth to the dangerous and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Minnesota is now the 21st state in the nation with statewide legislative protections against conversion therapy.
Troy Stevenson (he/him), Director of State Advocacy Campaigns for The Trevor Project, who was in attendance at today’s signing ceremony, released the following statement:
“This bill being signed into law is a beacon of hope sending out a powerful message of love and acceptance to LGBTQ young people across the country. We applaud the elected leaders, advocates, including our partners at OutFront Minnesota, and Gov. Walz for helping make this victory possible.
“Amid the current political climate — where we’ve seen record-breaking numbers of anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced and considered across the nation — Minnesota has taken a righteous stance to protect its LGBTQ communities. We urge lawmakers in other states to rise up in concert with The North Star State by pushing for similar protections until so-called conversion ‘therapy’ is banned in every single state.”
Relevant Research:
- According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by State, 43% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 52% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Additionally, 15% of LGBTQ youth in Minnesota 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.