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Colorado becomes 18th state to ban conversion therapy for minors

Photo: Marc Bruxelle/EyeEm/Getty Images

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law on Friday banning psychotherapy that tries to change minors' sexual orientation or gender identity and calling it a "tortuous practice.", reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

The big picture: Colorado joins 17 other states and the District of Columbia that have outlawed the use of conversion therapy for youth. Other states are considering similar legislation, including North Carolina, per AP.

Context: Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of trying to change the sexual orientation, gender identity or the gender expression of LGBT people, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA. Per the Chronicle, research indicates that conversion therapy increases the risk of depression, suicide and drug use in young people.

The 18 states that have banned conversion therapy for minors:

  • California
  • New Jersey
  • Oregon
  • Illinois
  • Vermont
  • Rhode Island
  • New Mexico
  • Connecticut
  • Nevada
  • Washington
  • Maryland
  • Hawaii
  • New Hampshire
  • Delaware
  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Colorado

Go deeper: Massachusetts now prohibits conversion therapy for minors

Go deeper

Jacob Knutson
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Justice Department drops insider trading inquiry against Sen. Richard Burr

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) walking through the Senate Subway in the U.S. Capitol in December 2020. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

The Department of Justice told Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) on Tuesday that it will not move forward with insider trading charges against him.

Why it matters: The decision, first reported by the New York Times, effectively ends the DOJ's investigation into the senator's stock sell-off that occurred after multiple lawmakers were briefed about the coronavirus' potential economic toll. Burr subsequently stepped down as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Sara Fischer, author of Media Trends
5 hours ago - Economy & Business

Netflix tops 200 million global subscribers

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

Netflix said that it added another 8.5 million global subscribers last quarter, bringing its total number of paid subscribers globally to more than 200 million.

The big picture: Positive fourth-quarter results show Netflix's resiliency, despite increased competition and pandemic-related production headwinds.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Courtenay Brown
5 hours ago - Economy & Business

Janet Yellen plays down debt, tax hike concerns in confirmation hearing

Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen at an event in December. Photo: Alex Wong via Getty Images

Janet Yellen, Biden's pick to lead the Treasury Department, pushed back against two key concerns from Republican senators at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday: the country's debt and the incoming administration's plans to eventually raise taxes.

Driving the news: Yellen — who's expected to win confirmation — said spending big now will prevent the U.S. from having to dig out of a deeper hole later. She also said the Biden administration's priority right now is coronavirus relief, not raising taxes.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow