Maryland GOP governor signs law banning gay conversion therapy

Maryland has become the 11th state to pass a ban on gay conversion therapy for minors.

Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed the bill banning the practice for minors into law on Tuesday, according to NBC News.

Maryland lawmakers had overwhelmingly passed the measure last month.

Among those who voted in favor of the bill was Del. Meagan Simonaire (R), who said that her father, who is a state senator, pushed for her to go through gay conversion therapy.

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“They weren’t ever hateful, but were fully convinced that she was living in sin and desperately wanted to get her the help she needed,” Simonaire said of her family during a passionate speech on the floor, referring to herself.

“While she never actually had to endure conversion therapy, the pain of having her good-intentioned parents convinced of its ability to ‘fix her’ was enough to cause significant pain, self-loathing and deep depression.”

Her father, state Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R), voted against the ban.

Connecticut, California, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia have all passed laws or other measures banning the practice.

New Hampshire and Hawaii have both passed bills banning gay conversion therapy, but the measures have not yet been signed into law, according to NBC.