REP LIEU, SEN MURRAY AND SEN BOOKER RE-INTRODUCE FEDERAL CONVERSION THERAPY BAN
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced their federal ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act seeks to ban conversion therapy, a practice where so-called therapists fraudulently claim they can ‘cure’ children of their LGBTQ identities. The practice has been recognized by the national community of professionals in education, social work, health, and counseling as being both dangerous and useless.
Congressman Lieu authored the first ever ban on youth conversion therapy in the nation as a California State Senator. He has introduced federal bans in the 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Senate version today and previously introduced federal bans in the 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses.
“Conversion therapy is a scam that hurts LGBTQ kids,” said Rep. Lieu “Using fake science and unearned credentials, conversion therapists prey on vulnerable kids to convince them that who they are is not okay. Major medical organizations oppose the practice because it is harmful and ineffective. We’re overdue for a national ban and I am pleased to once again partner with Senators Murray and Booker on this bill.”
“Conversion therapy is based on the hateful idea that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is an illness that requires treatment. It’s a dangerous sham practice that has been completely debunked and should be banned nationwide—and that’s what our legislation would do,” said Senator Murray. “Our kids deserve to be raised and taught in loving environments that affirm who they are. I’ll keep fighting for a world where every person, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, can live with dignity and without fear.”
“There is no place in health care for practices rooted in hateful ideology that harms vulnerable children who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Senator Booker. “Being LGBTQ+ is not an illness, and conversion therapy is a fraudulent treatment that tells children their identity is an illness that must be cured. This legislation would clarify that under the FTC that ‘conversion therapy’ in exchange for monetary compensation is illegal, and ensure that no child is a victim to this discredited, harmful practice.”
Human Rights Campaign Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Pike Bailey:
"The reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act is a critical step forward in protecting LGBTQ+ individuals, especially our youth, from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. The bill affirms that no one should profit from misleading and dangerous attempts to change something that is not a choice: a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The scientific and medical communities have overwhelmingly rejected conversion therapy, and this bill further ensures that practices that cause real long-term harm have no place in our society. We thank Senators Murray and Booker and Representative Lieu for their leadership on this issue."
The Trevor Project Interim Vice President of Advocacy & Government Affairs Mark Henson
“We all want kids to be healthy and safe. Yet LGBTQ+ youth across the country are in crisis today as they hear messages of rejection — not just from peers or online bullies, but from adults and systems meant to protect them. All young people deserve to live authentically as who they are and be protected from dangerous, discredited conversion therapy practices that are associated with greater suicide risk and have been condemned by every major U.S. professional medical and mental health association. No amount of talk or pressure can make someone change their sexual orientation or gender identity—decades of research show it simply doesn’t work . The Trevor Project applauds the reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, which will help protect LGBTQ+ youth from being subjected to these harmful practices and instead celebrate them for who they are.”
PFLAG National CEO Brian K. Bond
Like most people with health questions, the LGBTQ+ people, parents and allies of PFLAG work together with their doctors, who follow standards of care and clinical guidelines that have been recognized as authoritative for decades by trusted mainstream medical organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. These and every mainstream medical association denounce practices of so-called conversion ‘therapy’ as discredited and dangerous. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would protect vulnerable people who are seeking trusted help from being lured into a pretense for dangerous conversion therapies. PFLAG National thanks Congressman Lieu and Senator Murray for their leadership in reintroducing this important bill."
American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD.:
"The American Psychological Association thanks Representative Ted Lieu, Senator Patty Murray, and Senator Cory Booker for the reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act. This bill would ban so-called conversion therapy by labeling it a fraudulent practice under the Federal Trade Commission’s authority. APA has a long history of opposing sexual orientation change therapy based on peer-reviewed research studies. APA has also adopted several policies concluding that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation. We support this bill and stand ready to advocate for its passage.”
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