GOP New Hampshire governor signs law banning gay conversion therapy

New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law on Friday a ban on gay conversion therapy for minors.

Medical and mental health professionals — including the American Medical Association — say attempting to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity is proven to be ineffective and can cause psychological harm to LGBTQ youth. 

“Discrimination — in any form — is unacceptable and runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die Spirit,” Sununu said in a statement, as reported by WMUR. “If we really want to be the ‘Live Free or Die’ state, we must ensure that New Hampshire is a place where every person, regardless of their background, has an equal and full opportunity to pursue their dreams and to make a better life for themselves and their families.”{mosads}

The conservative group Cornerstone Action, which fought against the legislation, expressed disappointment in a statement calling for strengthening “the Christian base” of the New Hampshire legislature.

“I expected Gov. Sununu to stand by Christian principles and veto these bills, but he didn’t,” Cornerstone Executive Director Shannon McGinley wrote. “Yes, it’s discouraging. We fight to win. The fight is almost always close, but somehow with the grace of God, we’ve prevailed in some important battles. This time we didn’t. And it’s a big loss.”

New Hampshire becomes the 13th state to ban the practice, and Delaware is close behind to become the 14th.

Legislators in the Delaware General Assembly passed the measure on Thursday and it now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. John Carney, who is expected to sign it into law, according to WDEL Radio.

Sununu also signed a bill on Friday that extends protections against workplace, housing and public discrimination to transgender people, according to WMUR news.