A newly elected member of the Minnesota House has announced that he is going to work toward the state banning so-called conversion therapy for gay people.

State Rep.-elect Hunter Cantrell said successful legislative action would make Minnesota the 15th state to prohibit the practice, which aims to change the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians but has been discredited by mainstream mental health experts.

Cantrell, a DFLer who will represent the Twin Cities suburbs of Savage and Burnsville, said he will be the only openly gay person in the House starting in January.

He said that “despite being denounced by every mainstream medical and mental health association, dozens of licensed medical providers in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota still practice conversion therapy.

“People who practice conversion therapy still think that being LGBTQ is a mental illness that should be cured. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how many young LGBTQ people have been the victim of this psychological abuse, which can lead to depression, substance abuse, and suicide.”

Cantrell won the general election for House District 56A by defeating the two-term incumbent, Republican Drew Christensen of Savage.