Please hear these words:

• These dangerous and discredited practices are based on the false claim that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) is a mental illness that needs to be cured—a view with no scientific basis.
• This guidance protects young people from state-licensed therapists in Virginia who falsely claim to parents and youth that being LGBTQ is a mental illness, and therefore taking advantage of parents and harming vulnerable youth.
• These harmful practices use rejection, shame, and psychological abuse to force young people to try and change who they are.
• Please ban this harmful practice--it does not work, it is unnecessary & it is unethical.  Thank you.