Kentucky Gov. Bans ‘Conversion Therapy’ in Attempt ‘to Silence the Expression’ of Different Views, Expert Says

In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear (D) decided it’s okay for children to undergo gender transition procedures but that it’s not okay to allow a way for kids to talk it out first.

“Conversion therapy,” as the Daily Caller wrote, “has historically referred to clinical attempts to stop patients from experiencing same-sex attraction.” However, far-left activists and organizations have characterized the practice as “dangerous and discredited,” claiming it causes “depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidality.” Beshear, keeping in step with the latter definition, banned “conversion therapy” for minors in an executive order issued on Wednesday.

Beshear wrote in the order, “The Commonwealth of Kentucky cannot reach its full potential until and unless it is free from discrimination by or against any citizen. … Discrimination against our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, including our LGBTQ+ youth, is unacceptable in this Commonwealth.” According to the governor, conversations with youth pertaining to LGBT matters are allowed, so long as they provide “acceptance, support, or understanding” that “does not seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”

In a press release, Beshear added, “Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science,” and that the executive order “is about protecting our youth from an inhumane practice that hurts” children. But as some experts have pointed out, Beshear’s executive order closes the door to necessary conversations.

“Ultimately,” said David Walls, executive director of the Family Foundation, “this is about muzzling Christian counselors and even pastors from helping children struggling with sexual orientation or gender identity issues.” He added, “We continue to believe that parents and their children should be free to seek counseling that they desire to seek, including faith-based counseling.”

Kentucky Senator Robby Mills (R) pitched in on X, sharing in a post how Beshear’s executive order could “have a chilling effect on Christian counseling, and possibly violate religious liberties.” In a comment under the senator’s post, one user expressed, “It’s truly delusional that talking is labeled, ‘conversion therapy,’ while dangerous hormones and mutilating surgery are termed, ‘gender-affirming care.’” Another stated, “Giving children drugs and surgery without first … getting them mental health care is malpractice. Most kids grow out of gender dysphoria, why ruin their lives to be trendy?”

Joseph Backholm, Family Research Council’s senior fellow for Biblical Worldview, shared his insight with The Washington Stand. “Counseling isn’t a restaurant and ‘conversion therapy’ isn’t a menu item you order,” Backholm stated. “So, it’s not like telling a store to remove a product that is dangerous from the shelves.”

Rather, he continued, “Counseling is a process, and where you start is not where you end.” In fact, “you often have no idea what the destination is when you begin.” Considering this, it stands to reason that “what these bans try to do is say it’s illegal to help someone embrace their sex or minimize certain sexual impulses even if they want to. The legislature is telling people, ‘You’re not allowed to get help with that.’”

As Backholm emphasized, “Abuse and manipulation by counselors is already banned in many ways, so this [order] doesn’t limit them in any ways they aren’t already limited.” The reality, he insisted, is that “no one wants anyone to be abused,” but because there are already safeguards in place preventing abusive counselors, Backholm agreed with critics of Beshear’s order that it appears to be yet “another way the Left is working to silence the expression of ideas they disagree with.”

In terms of a biblical worldview, Backholm addressed what Christians can learn from these circumstances. As he pointed out, “What Christians need to be committed to is communicating the truth about who God made us to be, even when there’s a cost.” Echoing how there once was “liability for saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ for first century Christians,” believers today face “liability for saying ‘boys aren’t girls.’” But even with pushback, Backholm urged, “We need to say it anyway.”

“The more pressure there is not to speak certain truths,” he concluded, “the more important it is that those truths be spoken.”