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Posted By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2015.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement today following President Obama’s call to end the harmful psychiatric therapies aimed at “converting” LGBT people, especially children and youth:

“LGBT lives matter.  Yet, we have lost too many loved ones who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender as the result of misguided, harmful efforts to shame, punish, and coerce LGBT Americans into denying who they are or who they love.

“President Obama’s leadership on calling for an end to these practices serves as a clarion call for states to act swiftly to protect the lives of LGBT citizens, especially children and young adults, whose lives and dignity are at risk every time a medical professional or community member refuses to accept them.

“Under the leadership of Governor Jerry Brown, California leads the nation as the first state to ban this harmful practice and now is the time for other states to lead the charge until we have a national law that protects LGBT Americans from these practices.”

Statements of praise have been issued also by other prominent Democrats:

Congressman Nadler released the following statement in response to President Obama’s call for an end to “conversion” therapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth:

“As President Obama has said, sexual orientation change efforts – colloquially known as ‘conversion’ or ‘reparative’ therapy – have been widely discredited by nearly every major medical and mental health association across the nation, as not only unable to accomplish their stated goals, but harmful to youth. I believe that licensed mental health professionals should be prohibited from engaging in these deceptive and damaging practices. I am proud that President Obama has added his voice to the effort to end ‘conversion’ therapy nationwide.”

READ Statement from Transgender  Legal Defense Fund