Yesterday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an Executive Directive (full text) directing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to take action "to prohibit the use of state and federal funds for the practice of conversion therapy on minors." In the Executive Directive, Whitmer said in part:
The assumptions underlying the practice of conversion therapy are not supported by medicine or science. Being LGBTQ+ is not a disorder, disease, or deficiency. Treating it as such through conversion therapy is not only ineffectual, but may cause significant long-term harm, including anxiety, depression, internalized homophobia, lowered self-esteem, and self-blame, as well as alienation, loneliness, social isolation, loss of social supports, and suicidal behaviors.
It also called on other state agencies to explore what they can do to protect minors from conversion therapy. MLive reports on the Governor's action.
