Conversion therapy' ban falls short in Minnesota Senate

Conversion therapy' ban falls short in Minnesota Senate | Photo: WDIO

STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
Created: May 19, 2022 05:09 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - An effort to ban “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ youth has won a majority in the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate. But it didn't get enough votes on a procedural maneuver to advance.

With little advance warning, Democratic Sen. Scott Dibble, of Minneapolis, tried Thursday to pull his bill out of a committee, where it has languished for two years without a hearing, and tee it up for a Senate floor vote. The vote was 34-31 but was short of the 41 votes needed under Senate rules.

Dibble says he's encouraged that supporters have shown there are enough votes to pass a ban.

Conversion therapy is a scientifically discredited practice of using therapy to “convert” LGBTQ people to heterosexuality or traditional gender expectations.