It is so very important to ban conversion therapy not only to prevent harm (which is the number one premise behind mental and physical health care), but to also support human decency and acceptance so that individuals who identify as a sexual minority can have the opportunity to thrive in today's society. Research consistently shows that conversion therapy is harmful and causes long lasting painful effects. Not only that, but allowing conversion therapy to still be legal sends a message that an aspect of someone's identity is "wrong" and needs to be fixed, despite the fact that "homosexuality" has not been recognized in the mental health field as a disorder since 1973. Even at this point, it was not the finest moment in mental health care, because aspects of identity should never be pathologized. This is the equivalent of stating that because someone identifies as "Christian" they should be "fixed", or because they identify as "White" they should be "fixed". Research consistently also shows that sexual orientation is not a choice, and that this aspect of identity is the same as all others, in that a person is born with this aspect of who they are and identify as. By banning conversion therapy, we send the message that all aspects of identity are appreciated and supported, and stop the message that certain identities are "wrong" or "bad". I personally have had clients terrified of being "sent to conversion therapy", and the fact that someone fears an aspect of mental health treatment sends the message that we need to take this "threat" off the table. Please think about how you would feel if someone wanted to "send you away" to treatment because of an aspect of your own identity, and ban conversion therapy as a step towards promoting the welfare of all.