Biden to sign order to address conversion therapy, anti-LGBT bills – USA TODAY
- President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Wednesday to offer new initiatives for the LGBT+ community.
- Biden’s order calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to draft sample policies for states on how to expand access to comprehensive health care for LGBT+ patients.
- The measure comes as at least 20 states have passed anti-LGBT laws in recent months.
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Wednesday to offer new initiatives for the LGBT+ community, including addressing conversion therapy and expanding resources for mental health.
The new executive order comes as state legislatures have passed multiple bills or executive orders that are anti-LGBT in recent months.
At least 20 states have passed measures involving gender-affirming health care, sports participation or discussion of LGBT issues in schools, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an independent think tank in Boulder, Colorado.
In an effort to address some of the anti-LGBT bills, the president’s order will call on the Department of Health and Human Services to release new sample policies for states on how to expand access to comprehensive health care for LGBT+ patients. He is also calling on the Department of Education to release a sample school policy for achieving full inclusion for LGBT+ students.
The executive order will also focus on addressing conversion therapy, such as calling on HHS to lead an initiative to reduce the risk of youth exposure to conversion therapy, as well as directing the Secretary of State to promote an end to conversion therapy around the world. Through the executive order, Biden will also encourage the Federal Trade Commission to consider whether conversion therapy is constitutes an unfair or deceptive practice and whether to issue consumer warnings on services about it.
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In an effort to address mental health in LGBT+ youth, Biden will expand access to suicide prevention resources. Biden is also launching a new initiative through the executive order to address discrimination and barriers that LGBTQ+ children and parents face in foster care.
The executive order will also strengthen federal data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity among LGBT+ homelessness and housing insecurity, as well as access to health care.
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Biden’s new order comes as he is holding a reception for Pride Month at the White House Wednesday afternoon. Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as several cabinet members and lawmakers, will attend the reception.
According to a senior administration official, Biden will be introduced by Javier Gomez, an 18-year-old Floridian who helped organize a statewide student walkout over the the Parental Rights in Education law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in March. Critics dubbed the legislation “Don’t Say Gay,” which bans teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity between kindergarten through third grade.
Contributing: Marc Ramirez
Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_