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Dear Friend,

Americans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) don’t need a “cure,” they need equality under the law.

That’s why I have helped introduce the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act (H.R. 2450), the first federal ban on so-called “conversion therapy.” This legislation classifies for-profit conversion therapy as fraudulent under the Federal Trade Commission Act, and it prohibits advertisements claiming a practitioner can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It only affects for-profit practitioners of conversion therapy, providing protections for religious liberty and freedom of speech.

This past week, I hosted an event in Washington state calling on Congress to pass this important bill. We must protect LGBT Americans and their families from the fraudulent promises of conversion. This practice has been condemned as cruel and ineffective among medical, education, social work and mental health professionals.

Daniel Cords, a Seattle resident who was placed in conversion therapy after he came out at age 14, joined me and spoke to the harmful nature of the practice — and to the fact that it does not work. Daniel described how the experience of being subjected to conversion therapy made him severely depressed and suicidal. His brave story helps shed light on the extreme damage conversion therapy can do. It is cruel, it is ineffective and it is harming young Americans.

There is much more work to do to end discrimination and ensure LGBT Americans have full rights and protections under the law. I vow to continue this fight in Congress.

As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on Twitter, Instagramand Facebook. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the IRS or the VA, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.

Sincerely,
 
Suzan