Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Announces Action to Protect LGBT Youth from Conversion Therapy

Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced executive actions to protect New York's LGBT youth from the discredited and harmful practice known as conversion therapy.

At the Governor's direction, the New York State Department of Financial Services is issuing regulations barring insurers from providing coverage for conversion therapy given to an individual under the age of 18. Additionally, the New York State Department of Health is prohibiting coverage of conversion therapy under the State's Medicaid program and the New York State Office of Mental Health is issuing regulations prohibiting facilities under its jurisdiction from providing conversion therapy treatment to minors.

Governor Cuomo's historic announcement is a victory for New York's LGBT youth. Today, every New Yorker who cares for the health and well-being of children can celebrate. No longer will unscrupulous peddlers of this dangerous pseudoscience victimize LGBT youth in New York State. LGBT youth will no longer be driven to suicide by abusive techniques intended to destroy their very identities.

The Pride Agenda has worked tirelessly for years alongside Governor Cuomo, State Senator Brad Hoylman, State Senator Mike Gianaris, Assembly Member Deborah Glick and fellow advocates to build support for ending the abusive, discredited, and anti-LGBT practice of "conversion therapy" on youth in New York. The Pride Agenda had great optimism that, as a result of these efforts, New Yorkers would achieve this goal.

The Pride Agenda salutes Governor Cuomo for being the first governor in the nation to take this kind of executive action to protect the health and well-being of LGBT youth across our state. The governor has once again demonstrated his leadership in the fight for equality and justice for the LGBT community.

About the Empire State Pride Agenda

Founded in 1990, the Empire State Pride Agenda is New York's statewide civil rights and advocacy group which has achieve great advances in equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and our families. prideagenda.org.