New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced executive actions meant to prevent conversion therapy, which has been discredited by more than 10 nationally accredited professional medical organizations.

The executive actions, which would primarily affect youth, were announced Feb. 6. The state will implement a series of multifaceted actions to prevent the practice of conversion therapy, which is used in attempts to change the sexual orientation of an individual.

New York state insurers and New York’s Medicaid program will be prohibited from providing coverage for conversion therapy given to minors under 18, according to a press release on Cuomo’s website. Facilities under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office of Mental Health will also be prohibited from providing conversion therapy to minors, according to the release.

Cuomo said in the release that the actions are necessary because conversion is rooted in discrimination of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and has been discredited by virtually all nationally accredited mental health institutions within the United States.

“New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades — and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example,” Cuomo said.

Mental health institutions such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association, among others, have denounced the use of conversion therapy, according to the release.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman, who is the primary sponsor of the legislation and the only openly LGBT member of the State Senate, said in the press release that conversion therapy is one of the “biggest consumer frauds” in recent history. Hoylman praised the action for its formation in response to major mental health professional repudiation.

“I am extremely grateful to Governor Cuomo for using his executive authority to cut off state support and protect LGBT children from destructive and discredited sexual orientation change efforts,” he said.

Erin Rand, an affiliated professor of LGBT studies at Syracuse University, said conversion therapy assumes that sexuality is inherent. She added that Cuomo’s executive actions combat the idea that heterosexuality is the only appropriate sexuality and that all other sexualities are unacceptable.

“It says queer kids deserve better support, that it’s not even legal anymore to try and change you,” Rand said.

But Rand said she believes the actions do not address some facets of the problem.

She said she is unsure that the action addresses the root of the message society sends to youth. It does not give them more autonomy over their choices, she said, but less choice to do something thoroughly proven to be harmful.

This is a disempowering message to youth in general, Rand said, and the message furthers the idea that society doesn’t trust young people.

Rand said the rhetoric of the executive should be looked at in the context of history, but added that the executive action is a step in the right direction.

“To actually create a policy that suggests one can be a healthy, normal, LGBT person is definitely a positive step,” she said.

Published on February 22, 2016 at 9:40 pm

Contact Tara: trtolton@syr.edu