Biden Signs Executive Order Aiming To Protect LGBTQ Youth And Cut Federal Funding To Conversion Therapy

Breaking Business Biden Signs Executive Order Targeted At Conversion Therapy, Aiming To Protect LGBTQ Youth Brian Bushard Forbes Staff I cover breaking news for Forbes New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Jun 15, 2022, 02:34pm EDT | Updated Jun 15, 2022, 02:49pm EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order Wednesday, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to increase protections for LGBTQ children – in the wake of anti-transgender bills pushed by conservative lawmakers in 34 states across the country. DANVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 11: U.

S. Vice President Joe Biden smiles during the vice presidential debate . .

. [+] at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates before the closely-contested election November 6.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts Biden’s order came in a Pride Month speech Wednesday, following a number of state bills that seek to ban transgender care , require trans youth to use only the bathrooms that match their sex at birth , and allow parents, coaches and teachers to question the sex of a student athlete . The executive order specifically targets conversion therapy by directing the Department of Health and Human Services to update its guidance, restricting federal funding for conversion therapy. Conversion therapy has been thoroughly discredited by medical experts, with the American Medical Association calling it “not based on medical or scientific evidence” and suggesting it can “increase suicidal behaviors and cause significant psychological distress.

” In a press call Wednesday, Biden also said he wanted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to “promote an end to conversion therapy around the world,” and the Federal Trade Commission to issue consumer warnings on the practice if it is determined to be an “unfair or deceptive act. Biden is also directing the Department of Education to address the impacts of state laws that restrict access for LGBTQ students, by issuing a school policy to “achieve full inclusion. ” Key Background Conversion therapy aims to change an LGBTQ child’s sexual orientation.

It is banned in 20 states and Washington D. C. Five other states have imposed partial bans.

Approximately 698,000 LGBTQ adults in the U. S. have received conversion therapy, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law .

JAMA Pediatrics reported estimated $650 million is spent on conversion therapy in the U. S. each year, including health insurance reimbursements, payments for services and donations or fees for religious forms of the practice.

Furhter Reading Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Into Law Despite Controversy (Forbes) Ohio Legislators Want To Check Children’s Gender (Forbes) DeSantis moves to ban transition care for transgender youths, Medicaid recipients (NBC News) Send me a secure tip . Brian Bushard Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.