White Plains, NY — With a unanimous, bipartisan vote Monday night, the Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a measure prohibiting healthcare professionals from providing “conversion therapy” to minors in Westchester.

The practice – which seeks to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – has been discredited and denounced by nearly all the leading health agencies including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry.

“I'm happy to see that across the political spectrum, legislators have been able to join together to pass this,” said Board Chair Ben Boykin (D – White Plains, Harrison, Scarsdale). “This is an inhumane practice. Young people just coming of age face long-term psychological harm from these coercive programs. By banning them, we'll be able to help our young people on the road to healthy self-acceptance.”

The measure, which was sponsored by County Executive George Latimer, now goes to him for his signature.