Maine Gov. Vetoes Conversion Therapy Ban, Approving Harmful Practice

Despite strong support in the state’s legislature, Governor Paul LePage late this week vetoed the bill that would have banned the harmful practice of conversion therapy on youth in the state of Maine, becoming the first governor—Republican or Democrat—to do so.

LePage defended his veto by calling the bill “unnecessary for professionals who already have a defined scope of practice and said he has concerns that it could harm parental rights and the work of faith-based counselors,” reported New England Cable News.

Dubbed “the craziest governor in America” by Politico, LePage, NECN went on to report, “used his veto message as an opportunity to criticize lawmakers for rejecting his bill banning female genital mutilation,” reported New England Cable News. “[That] practice, which is common in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, is already banned under federal law, but not explicitly under state law.”

According to the Washington Blade:

LGBT rights supporters resoundingly criticized the veto of LD 912 by LePage, a Tea Party politician who was once dubbed by Politico as “American craziest governor.” Fourteen states and D.C. have enacted similar measures.

Marty Rouse, the Human Rights Campaign’s national field director, said in a statement LePage’s veto was a “shameful decision” and “leaves Maine’s LGBTQ youth at risk of being subjected to a practice that amounts to nothing less than child abuse.”

“These crucial protections are supported by a bipartisan majority, and have been signed into law in a growing number of other states by both Democratic and Republican governors — including by the Republican governor in neighboring New Hampshire mere weeks ago,” Rouse said. “With this inexcusable decision, Gov. LePage has become the only governor in the nation to veto legislation protecting young people from this abuse, solidifying his place in history’s hall of shame.”

Rouse called on the Maine legislature — controlled in the House by Democrats and the Senate by Republicans — to override LePage’s veto so the measure will become law regardless of his action. The Maine House approved the measure by 80-55 and the Maine Senate voted for final passage 19-12 in the special legislative session last month.

The practice of therapy aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation or transgender status is considered ineffectual at best and harmful at worst. Major medical and psychological institutions — including American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics — widely reject the practice.