St. Louis Bans Conversion Therapy for LGBTQ Minors

St. Louis, Missouri is the latest city to ban the practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors, local NBC affiliate news station KSDK reports.

Mayor Lyda Krewson signed a bill into law Monday, which bans the practice that some believe can "turn" gay people straight.

"A national community of professionals in education, social work, health, mental health, and counseling, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), have determined that there is no scientifically valid evidence that supports the practice of conversion therapy," Board Bill 152 reads.

"Such professionals have also determined that conversion therapy is not only ineffective but is substantially dangerous to an individual's mental and physical well-being and has also been shown to contribute to depression, self-harm, low self-esteem, family rejection and suicide."

There a number of cities and states that have laws banning conversion therapy for minors. Those who violate the law in St. Louis will face a $500 fine.