New Mexico § 61-1-3.3 - Conversion therapy; grounds for disciplinary action

§ 61-1-3.3. Conversion therapy; grounds for disciplinary action

A. A person licensed pursuant to provisions of Chapter 61 NMSA 1978 shall not provide conversion therapy to any person under eighteen years of age. The provision of conversion therapy in violation of the provisions of this subsection

shall be grounds for disciplinary action by a board in accordance with the provisions

of the Uniform Licensing Act. B. As used in this section: (1) “ conversion therapy ” means any practice or treatment that seeks to change a person's sexual orientation

or gender identity, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions

or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward persons

of the same sex. “Conversion therapy” does not mean: (a) counseling or mental health services that provide acceptance, support and understanding

of a person without seeking to change gender identity or sexual orientation; or (b) mental health services that facilitate a person's coping, social support, sexual

orientation or gender identity exploration and development, including an intervention

to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking

to change gender identity or sexual orientation; (2) “ gender identity ” means a person's self-perception, or perception of that person by another, of the

person's identity as a male or female based upon the person's appearance, behavior

or physical characteristics that are in accord with or opposed to the person's physical

anatomy, chromosomal sex or sex at birth; and (3) “ sexual orientation ” means heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality, whether actual or perceived.