SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois could follow the lead of other states that have made a controversial practice aimed at "curing" homosexuality in adolescents illegal.

The Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act (HB 217; SB 111) would specifically ban any mental health provider from engaging in efforts to change the sexual orientation of a minor.

Dr. Dennis Shelby, co-chair of advocacy relations with the American Psychoanalytic Association, says conversation therapy, or reparative therapy, can stem from a parent's misguided response to a child questioning his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

"We have parents' knee-jerk reaction, and there are people out there that will say, 'Sure we can change this,'" says Shelby. "There's very little evidence that is possible, and the other concern is this causes psychological harm to the child."

The American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Illinois Psychological Association are among the mental health organizations backing the legislation. Conversion therapy is already illegal in California, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Opponents, including the Illinois Family Institute, a Christian values organization, argue the legislation infringes on privacy rights. But Shelby says conversion therapy goes against almost every mental health organization's code of ethics - and it implies there is something wrong with identifying as gay.

"We're saying this is bad, this is wrong and it needs to be changed," he says. "That starts shading into this business of coercion, and we don't coerce our patients. We provide them an environment where they can explore their mind."

Shelby adds that research from San Francisco State University found that highly-rejected LGBT young people were six times more likely to report high levels of depression, and eight times more likely to have contemplated suicide than those not rejected because of their gay or transgender identity.


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South Dakota is once again locked in a debate over a bill concerning transgender youth.

It seeks to ban gender-affirming care, with supporters saying they want to protect minors, while opponents call it a major intrusion on a family's personal medical decisions.

The state Senate is expected to take up the bill after it was overwhelmingly approved by the House last week. It would prohibit treatments like hormone therapy for those under 18.

Bill sponsors say adolescents shouldn't be seeking out care they might regret. But Susan Williams, executive director of South Dakota's Transformation Project Advocacy Network, pointed out that these aren't rash decisions made by teens on their own.

"Gender-affirming care would start with a therapist meeting with a family, meeting with a youth and doing several assessments," said Williams. "That can take six months or more."

She said lawmakers trying to have their say would be violating a family's privacy.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says having this care for adolescents is a crucial part of helping them thrive.

Last year, South Dakota approved a law banning transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. Other conservative states have adopted similar laws, including targeting gender-affirming care.

Williams said she feels there's too much misinformation being floated within these debates.

"They're using words like 'genital mutilation' and 'chemical castration,'" said Williams, "and these words are meant to instill fear in the general public."

The HHS says procedures such as gender-affirming surgeries are typically used in adulthood.

Meanwhile, some of the laws in other states have led to lawsuits. Opponents of the South Dakota bill predict as currently written, it would lead to costly litigation.

Legislation to close a loophole that potentially allows discrimination against LGBTQ New Mexicans will be debated by the State Legislature this session.

House Bill 207 would prohibit public entities and contractors from discriminating on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity when providing services.

Marshall Martinez, executive director of Equality New Mexico, said the state has one of the oldest and strongest nondiscrimination laws in the country, but specific language referencing the LGBTQ community is missing.

"Legally, state departments and agencies, city and county governments and even school districts can legally discriminate in New Mexican law," Martinez explained.

During the bill's introduction, co-sponsor, Rep. Kristina Ortez, D-Taos, said it is critical to explicitly protect LGBTQ youth at a time when attacks against them are occurring across the country. Two similar bills have failed, but Martinez is hopeful the third attempt will succeed before the legislature adjourns in March.

The New Mexico bill to expand LGBTQ legal protections is in contrast to proposed laws in neighboring states such as Texas and Arizona, where lawmakers have proposed bills to restrict rights.

Martinez argued the absence of protections for transgender students and others leaves them vulnerable if agencies do not adhere to the spirit of the Human Rights Act.

"Children, Youth and Services could say for example, if they're investigating parents for child abuse, they could say, 'Oh, and by the way the parents are lesbians,' and you couldn't file a lawsuit against them in state law for discrimination because that's not prohibited," Martinez outlined.

Equality New Mexico is also supporting legislation to give 16-year-olds the right to vote in state, local, and school board elections.

An Arizona LGBTQ+ group has established a partnership with Waymo, the autonomous-driving tech company, to provide what it said will be a safer transportation option.

Angela Hughey, president of the group One Community, said through the partnership, Waymo is providing what she described as "acceptability through innovation."

Hughey explained a person never truly knows what experience awaits them when they hail a traditional ride-share service, and it comes with a sense of vulnerability. She stressed Waymo and One Community have gone the extra mile to eliminate the worry.

"What I really think is so cool about Waymo and the innovation of autonomous driving, is that Waymo doesn't discriminate, right?" Hughey pointed out. "It is about providing safety and an assuredness to every passenger that gets into the car."

Hughey called it a valuable and necessary innovation. A Gender Policy Report from the University of Minnesota found one in four members of the LGBTQ+ community is concerned about safety on public transportation. Waymo currently provides service in the metro Phoenix area, downtown Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport.

Hughey added Waymo is just one of 3,500 businesses to have signed One Community's Unity Pledge, which turns 10 years old next month. It is a pledge to advance workplace equality, equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies.

"One of the first things that Waymo did when we started our partnership, is that they signed the Unity Pledge," Hughey noted. "So, that was actionable. They are absolutely supportive of LGBTQ inclusivity in this great state and nation, and taking the United Pledge was very demonstrative on their part."

Hughey added feeling safe and welcome in ride-sharing services is something which should matter to all Arizonans.