State Senate again backs bill to ban gay conversion therapy

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The state Senate has again passed a bill that would ban therapy that attempts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors.

The bill, approved Thursday, is identical to one the Senate passed last year but that the House killed in January. The House later passed a slightly different version, and those differences would have to be reconciled for the bill to advance to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who has said he supports banning conversion therapy.

Supporters of the measure to ban the therapy say the therapy is inappropriate, ineffective and harmful.

"This practice is a backward, barbaric practice aimed to scare the gay away," said Senate Democratic Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn, of Whitefield.