These Congress Members Want to Stop Conversion Therapy at 'Boot Camps'

A bipartisan pair of Congress members introduced a bill today that would prohibit counselors at so-called boot camps from engaging in efforts to try to change a camper's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, introduced a bill today modeled on the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act, which had been introduced several times by former California Rep. George Miller and passed the U.S. House without making it through the Senate, notes The Hill. The legislation would require residential treatment programs to abide by uniform standards, including a sweeping prohibition on child abuse of any kind, including starvation, denial of water or medical treatment, and efforts to change a young person's sexual orientation or gender identity, commonly known as "conversion therapy."

The phrase "residential treatment programs" refers to a broad range of programs, generally aimed at modifying undesirable behavior in young people deemed "unruly." Such programs are sometimes referred to as "boot camps" where "troubled teens" are "scared straight." The lawmakers pointed to a troubling trend of parents sending their children to these facilities as a "last resort," then finding that the children have been abused or even tortured while attending "camp."

"While many residential treatment and youth 'boot' camp programs help young people who are at risk, I am increasingly concerned about reports of malfeasance in some camps," said a statement from Ros-Lehtinen, one of the first Congressional Republicans to support marriage equality and who happens to have a transgender son. "Some practices, such as starvation, excessive physical restraints, and neglectful medical treatment, are intolerable in any setting. Additionally, although sexual orientation and gender identity are immutable characteristics, other programs seek to behaviorally modify LGBT youth. No one should undergo this physical or emotional abuse and Adam and I are proud to help take the first step in solving this important problem."

"We cannot ignore reports that young people have died and thousands have suffered abuse at the hands of those who run and work at residential treatment programs under the guise of providing critical therapy and rehabilitation services," said chiff. "That's why we are introducing legislation to hold all residential treatment programs accountable. The measure will also increase the transparency of these programs so that parents can make informed and safer choices for their children. Families that turn to these treatment programs for help, often as a last resort, must know that their kids are safe and in the care of professionals."

While the legislation builds on the stalled efforts of former Rep. Miller, Ros-Lehtinen and Schiff's bill expands the scope of those efforts, according to a press release from Schiff's office.

According to that release, the legislation introduced today will:

• "Hold all youth residential treatment programs accountable to a set of minimum federal standards including prohibiting all residential treatment programs that purport to provide youth with mental health and behavioral treatment from any form of child abuse and depriving children of water, food, or medical care; requiring that all children have reasonable access to their families and a hotline to report instances of abuse; and requiring all staff members to be properly trained to identify instances of child abuse.
• "Establish civil penalties for any violation of these standards and ensures private right of action so that victims and their families can seek civil damages as well.
• "Increase transparency of the "troubled teen" industry by requiring all residential treatment programs to publicly disclose any past record of child abuse and state licensing status.
• "Prohibit all residential treatment facilities from discriminating against youth with disabilities and LGBT youth, and requires all programs to employ safe and evidence-based treatment that protects children against harmful or fraudulent practices.
• "Require states to work with Health and Human Services (HHS) to report and investigate instances of child abuse at residential treatment programs, and further requires them to establish standards that are at least as strict as federal standards. Also requires states to develop policies that ensure every program in their state is properly licensed and in compliance with license requirements."