Washington Restricting Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (HB 1972)

HB 1972 would prohibit licensed health care workers from performing sexual orientation change efforts on minors.  Under this law, licensed health care workers may speak with patients under 18 about sexual orientation change efforts, as long as those discussions do not constitute the performance of sexual change efforts.

The bill states, “sexual orientation change efforts” as a regime that seeks to change an individual’s orientation.  The term includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards individuals of the same sex.

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