The Latest: Senate passes ban on gay conversion therapy

CONCORD, N.H. – The Latest on legislative action to ban the practice of gay conversion therapy (all times local):

10:30 p.m.

The New Hampshire Senate has passed a ban on the practice of gay conversion therapy. The late night vote came after the Senate failed to reach an agreement on it earlier Thursday.

Gay conversion therapy is the practice of seeking to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity. The Senate bill bars licensed counsellors, ranging from nurses to marriage counsellors, from engaging in the practice with people under age 18.

The 16-8 vote comes after debate over the bill’s infringement on religious freedom initially stalled action on the measure. Six Republicans joined the 10 Democrats in the Senate in backing the ban. The bill specifically says the new law cannot infringe on religious freedom.

Gov. Maggie Hassan is praising the Senate’s decision to support the ban.

The Republican-led House already has approved the ban. But the House and Senate bills differ slightly and the chambers will need to agree on the language before sending the bill to Hassan’s desk for her signature.

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5 p.m.

Many New Hampshire Republicans and Democrats agree that gay conversion therapy on minors is damaging but a proposed ban on the practice is proving to be an intractable issue in the state Senate.

Gay conversion therapy is the practice of trying to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity. A bill that’s passed the Republican-controlled House would bar licensed counsellors from engaging in the practice with anyone under age 18.

The Senate placed the bill on the table Thursday for the second week in a row after failing to reach agreement on a handful of amendments. The tabling motion effectively killed the effort, as Thursday marked the last day to take regular action on bills this session.