APV Policy Director Victoria Bragunier speaks to the press. From L to R, Rev. Doctor Robin Gorsline, APV President Scott Price, Apryl Prentess, Del. Patrick Hope.
Today the Alliance for Progressive Values rolled out the major portion of its 2014 legislative agenda with a press conference on HB1135, introduced at our request by Progressive Caucus co-Chair, Delegate Patrick Hope of Arlington. HB1135 would end the practice of so called conversion therapy on children under the age of 18. “Conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy” or “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts” (SOCE), claim to be able to change people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender into heterosexuals. This treatment has been rejected throughout the medical, psychiatric and therapeutic communities for decades and has been shown to do deep and lasting damage particularly to young people. Special thanks to Apryl Prentess for her courage and eloquence today speaking about her experience with SOCE. We expect the bill to be heard in House Health, Welfare and Institutions, Sub Committee 3 next week. If you have been a victim of SOCE and particular if this occurred while you were a minor, please consider adding your voice to the growing chorus calling for an end to SOCE. Please contact Victoria Bragunier, vbragunier@apvonline.org.
News on Today’s Press Conference.
From The Washington Post
