February 23, 2023
An MMA-supported bill to ban the use of so called “conversion therapy” on minors passed through the House of Representatives earlier this week.
Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul), the chief author of the bill (HF 16) referenced the MMA’s position at a press event in support of the bill February 20.
“It’s been denounced by every mainstream medical and mental health organization,” Hollins said in reference to the MMA and other organization’s support for banning conversion therapy. “It preys on the fears of parents and does irreparable harm to children,” she continued.
In its letter in support of the bill, the MMA joined other organizations to “recognize that homosexuality and gender diverse identities are not pathological disease states, but rather variations of human sexuality. Conversion therapy presumes that something that is central to a person’s identity is wrong or abnormal. There is no scientific evidence to support a need for conversion therapy since we are not dealing with pathological conditions. The concept of conversion therapy lacks scientific credibility and clinical usefulness.”
The letter goes on to argue that “research into so-called conversion therapy paints a clear picture of its potential harm, particularly to adolescents and young adults. Conversion therapy can lead to poor self-esteem, self-harm, guilt, anxiety, depression, and possibly suicide.”
The bill was passed 81-47 by the House. A Senate vote is expected in the coming weeks.
May 29, 2025
As the Legislature works to complete its work on the state’s two-year budget, another deadline is looming. Legislators are required to pass a balanced budget before the end of the fiscal year—June 30, 2025. If they don’t meet that deadline, the state will begin a partial shutdown.
May 29, 2025
Registration has opened for the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Reflection and Engagement event, featuring best-selling author Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD.
May 29, 2025
The AMA is encouraging physicians to contact their U.S. senators and urge them to revise the reconciliation bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives. While the bill includes language that would stabilize Medicare physician payments, it also threatens to cripple Medicaid and CHIP.