[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 141 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 141

Expressing the sense of Congress efforts by mental health practitioners 
  to change an individual's sexual orientation and gender identity or 
  expression are dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from 
                       being practiced on minors.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 28, 2012

 Ms. Speier (for herself, Mr. Deutch, and Mr. Cicilline) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress efforts by mental health practitioners 
  to change an individual's sexual orientation and gender identity or 
  expression are dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from 
                       being practiced on minors.

Whereas being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender nonconforming is 
        not a disorder, disease, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming;
Whereas the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric 
        Association, National Association of Social Workers, American Counseling 
        Association Governing Council, and American Psychoanalytic Association 
        have not found ``conversion'' or ``reparative'' efforts to be effective 
        and have found evidence that they are harmful;
Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, 
        the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological 
        Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National 
        Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of 
        Social Workers, together representing more than 480,000 health and 
        mental health professionals, have all taken the position that 
        homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that 
        needs to be or can be ``cured'';
Whereas the American Psychological Association's 2009 resolution on Appropriate 
        Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts 
        ``concludes there is insufficient evidence to support the use of 
        psychological interventions to change sexual orientation'';
Whereas the American Psychiatric Association has opposed since 2000 ``any 
        psychiatric treatment, such as `reparative' or conversion therapy, which 
        is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental 
        disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that a patient should 
        change his/her homosexual orientation'';
Whereas the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Appropriate 
        Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation's systematic review of peer-
        reviewed journal literature on sexual orientation change efforts 
        concluded that sexual orientation change efforts can pose critical 
        health risks to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, including confusion, 
        depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, 
        suicidality, substance abuse, stress, disappointment, self-blame, 
        decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, 
        hostility and blame toward parents, feelings of anger and betrayal, loss 
        of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in sexual and 
        emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors, a 
        feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to self, a loss of faith, and a 
        sense of having wasted time and resources;
Whereas the American Psychological Association issued a resolution on 
        Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and 
        Change Efforts in 2009 advising parents, guardians, young people, and 
        their families ``to avoid sexual orientation change efforts that portray 
        homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and to seek 
        psychotherapy, social support, and educational services that provide 
        accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase 
        family and school support, and reduce rejection of sexual minority 
        youth'';
Whereas the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published an 
        article in 2012 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and 
        Adolescent Psychiatry stating: ``Clinicians should be aware that there 
        is no evidence that sexual orientation can be altered through therapy, 
        and that attempts to do so may be harmful. There is no empirical 
        evidence adult homosexuality can be prevented if gender nonconforming 
        children are influenced to be more gender conforming. Indeed, there is 
        no medically valid basis for attempting to prevent homosexuality, which 
        is not an illness. On the contrary, such efforts may encourage family 
        rejection and undermine self-esteem, connectedness and caring, important 
        protective factors against suicidal ideation and attempts. Given that 
        there is no evidence that efforts to alter sexual orientation are 
        effective, beneficial or necessary, and the possibility that they carry 
        the risk of significant harm, such interventions are contraindicated.'';
Whereas the National Association of Social Workers prepared a 1997 policy 
        statement in which it stated: ``Social stigmatization of lesbian, gay 
        and bisexual people is widespread and is a primary motivating factor in 
        leading some people to seek sexual orientation changes. Sexual 
        orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual orientation is 
        both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrates that 
        reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and, in fact, they may 
        be harmful.'';
Whereas the American Counseling Association Governing Council issued a position 
        statement in April of 1999 stating: ``We oppose `the promotion of 
        ``reparative therapy'' as a ``cure'' for individuals who are 
        homosexual.''';
Whereas the American Psychoanalytic Association updated its position statement 
        in June 2012 on attempts to change sexual orientation, gender, identity, 
        or gender expression, and in it the association states: ``As with any 
        societal prejudice, bias against individuals based on actual or 
        perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression 
        negatively affects mental health, contributing to an enduring sense of 
        stigma and pervasive self-criticism through the internalization of such 
        prejudice. Psychoanalytic technique does not encompass purposeful 
        attempts to `convert', `repair', change or shift an individual's sexual 
        orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Such directed efforts 
        are against fundamental principles of psychoanalytic treatment and often 
        result in substantial psychological pain by reinforcing damaging 
        internalized attitudes.'';
Whereas research by Caitlyn Ryan et al. entitled ``Family Rejection as a 
        Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay, 
        and Bisexual Adults'' published in 2009 demonstrates that minors who 
        experience family rejection based on their sexual orientation face 
        especially serious health risks and that such youth were 8.4 times more 
        likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to 
        report high levels of depression, and 3.4 times more likely to use 
        illegal drugs compared with peers from families that reported no or low 
        levels of family rejection; and
Whereas several States have enacted or are considering legislation and other 
        measures to address these ineffective and dangerous efforts: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Stop Harming Our Kids 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER 
              IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION CHANGE EFFORTS DIRECTED AT MINORS.

    (a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that sexual 
orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts directed 
at minors are discredited and ineffective, have no legitimate 
therapeutic purpose, and are dangerous and harmful.
    (b) State Encouragement.--Congress encourages each State to take 
steps to protect minors from efforts that promote or promise to change 
sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, based on the 
premise that homosexuality or transgender identity is a mental illness 
or developmental disorder that can or should be cured.
    (c) Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression Change 
Efforts Defined.--In this resolution, the term ``sexual orientation and 
gender identity or expression change efforts'' means any practice by a 
licensed mental health provider, health care provider, or counselor 
that seeks or purports to impose change of an individual's sexual 
orientation or gender identity or expression. Such term--
            (1) includes efforts--
                    (A) to change behavioral expression of an 
                individual's sexual orientation or gender identity or 
                expression; or
                    (B) to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic 
                attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same 
                sex; but
            (2) does not include culturally competent, affirmative 
        therapy that--
                    (A) provides acceptance, support, and understanding 
                of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, 
                or gender expression and the facilitation of an 
                individual's coping, social support, and identity 
                exploration and development, including interventions to 
                prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual 
                practices; or
                    (B) provides acceptance, support, or understanding 
                of an individual's gender expression or the 
                facilitation of an individual's coping, social support, 
                and identity exploration and development.
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