PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 16 – State legislators on Tuesday will outline legislation at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, in Philadelphia to protect Pennsylvania children by banning mental health providers from engaging in anti-gay “conversion therapy” for minors, as New Jersey and California have done.

The news conference will happen at the Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St., Philadelphia.

State Reps. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) and Gerald Mullery (D-Luzerne) plan to introduce a House bill similar to the one that state Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) recently introduced.

In addition to Sims and Williams, speakers at Tuesday’s event are expected to include:

* Ed Coffin, LGBT advocate as well as campaign director and media and public relations director, Peace Advocacy Network;

* Monique Walker, counselor and counseling services coordinator, Attic Youth Center, who has assisted many young people in dealing with the fallout from “conversion therapy” practices.

Media coverage is invited.

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