Germany Health Minister announces plans to ban LGBT+ conversion therapy News
rihaij / Pixabay
Germany Health Minister announces plans to ban LGBT+ conversion therapy

German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced plans Tueday to write a new law banning conversion therapy.

The new law would ban the practice of conversion therapy, which has been widely discredited by medical professionals. Currently, Germany experiences about 1,000 attempts at conversion therapy every year involving coaches, therapists and in some cases exorcisms. Under the new law these would all be ended. Spahn stated “Homosexuality is not a disease and therefore does not require treatment.” Spahn shared two medical opinions he commissioned examining homosexuality and the effectiveness of conversion therapy. Spahn went on to say that “Conversion therapies make you sick not healthy.” He discussed the findings of the studies which not only refute conversion therapy, but call for its immediate ban.

A number of US States and territories have banned conversion therapy, but the new law would make Germany one of the first countries to ban conversion therapy nationwide. There are currently conversion therapy bans in 18 US states, including Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Maryland, as well as Puerto Rico.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.