I am a mother of three children living in Virginia and I strongly encourage our state to take the necessary actions to protect our youth from conversion therapy.  It is a dangerous and discredited practice, based on the false claim that being LGBTQ is a mental illness to be cured - a view with no scientific basis.  As a mother, I will add that it is cruel and morally abject to try to influence a developing child by using tactics of rejection, shame, and psychological abuse with the intent of forcing him or her to change who they are.  These are extremely dangerous practices for our youth and must be stopped; they can lead to depression, self-harm, and suicide. 

Our state protects children, their families, and the values that keep our families strong. I'm proud to be a Virginian and look forward to seeing this important legislative change take place. 

Thank you,

Leslie Anderson