Section 1 Short title
This resolution may be cited as the “Stop Harming Our Kids Resolution of 2013”.
Stop Harming Our Kids Resolution of 2013
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that efforts by mental health practitioners to change an individual’s sexual orientation is dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from being practiced on minors.
Sec. 2 Sense of Congress regarding sexual orientation change efforts directed at minors
In general— It is the sense of Congress that sexual orientation change efforts directed at minors are discredited and ineffective, have no legitimate therapeutic purpose, and are dangerous and harmful.
State encouragement— Congress encourages each State to take steps to protect minors from efforts that promote or promise to change sexual orientation or gender identity or expression based on the premise that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender nonconforming is a mental illness or developmental disorder that can or should be cured.
Sexual orientation change efforts defined— In this resolution, the term sexual orientation change efforts means any practice by a licensed mental health provider, health care provider, or counselor that seeks or purports to impose change of an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, including reducing or eliminating sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender and efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expression. Such term does not include counseling that—
provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person;
facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development;
provides developmentally appropriate counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another; or
provides sexual orientation- and gender identity-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices; and
does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.