WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 36 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, legislation that would ban so-called “conversion therapy,” a practice fraudulently claiming to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been recognized by the national community of professionals in health, education, social work, and counseling as being both dangerous and useless.

“Conversion therapy isn’t just junk science—it’s a cruel, phony practice that tells gay and transgender kids there’s something wrong with them. This bill would shut down the predators peddling these abusive treatments and finally call this scam what it is: dangerous, hateful fraud,” said Murphy.

“The dangerous and debunked practice of so-called conversion therapy is seriously damaging to the LGBTQ+ community and most especially to children,” said Blumenthal. “Everyone, regardless of who they are and who they love, deserves to be protected from the discrimination and hate that fuels this harmful procedure. I am proud to sponsor the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act and stand with LGBTQ+ Americans in the fight against this discredited therapy.”

U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation. The bill was introduced in the House with 70 original cosponsors.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act is endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, American Academy of Pediatrics, Equality California, National Association of School Psychologists, Christopher Street Project, and Advocates for Trans Equality.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE. 

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