Media Contact

Jeanne Hruska, ACLU-NH Policy Director, 307-272-8727, [email protected]    

June 8, 2018

CONCORD, NH – Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 587 into law today, which bans the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy on minors. Conversion therapy, a discriminatory and harmful practice that falsely claims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, has been rejected by every major professional medical and mental health association. It is premised on the false notion that sexual orientation and gender identity are choices, and its risks are particularly acute for youth.

Statement by Devon Chaffee, executive director of ACLU of NH: "The ACLU of NH thanks Governor Sununu for standing up for all Granite State minors today by signing HB 587. We commend all the legislators who supported this bill and thank them for standing in solidarity with the LGBT community. The enactment of this bipartisan bill underscores New Hampshire's commitment to ensuring all Granite Staters are welcome and treated equally."

New Hampshire joins 13 other states and the District of Columbia that have laws or regulations protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy.