Governor Inslee signed a bill on Wednesday restricting the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth.

Conversion therapy can take many forms but is defined as an effort to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. During the signing of the bill, Inslee says an estimated 700,000 kids across the country have undergone some form of conversion therapy.

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Organizations like the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Psychiatric Association have come out in opposition to conversion therapy saying that it is both ineffective in its goal and can have lasting harmful impacts.

“Conversion therapy is not so much therapy, it’s abuse, and we are today prohibiting the abuse of our children,” said Inslee during the bill’s signing. “Conversion therapy, which has caused scars for decades across the country, is something that is inhumane and not acceptable in the state of Washington. We know today there are nationwide efforts to strip away the protections of our LGBTQ youth, and to prevent them from living safe, stable, and confident lives. As many of our friends, neighbors, and children today live in fear, we need to step up for them to protect them from conversion therapy, and we’re doing that today.”

The bill specifically defines the practice of conversion therapy on an individual under the age of 18 by a license health care provider as “unprofessional conduct.” Under the Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA), health care providers guilty of unprofessional conduct are subject to sanctions and disciplinary actions ranging from fines and remedial education, to revocation or suspension of their license. Other acts considered unprofessional conduct under the UDA include malpractice, negligence, misuse of drugs or alcohol, or fraud.

The bill only applies to licensed professionals and cannot define conversion therapy as unprofessional conduct when conducted by a religious denomination, church or organization.

During session, the bill passed by a vote of 66-32 in the House and 33-16 in the Senate. With the signing of this bill, Washington joins 9 other states and the District of Columbia in banning conversion therapy.

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