Michigan ban on conversion therapy poised for approval
Since taking control of Michigan's government at all levels earlier this year, the state's Democrats have continued to advance LGBTQ+ rights — this time with some help from one Republican lawmaker, as on Wednesday this week, the state's Senate approved a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

Democratic Rep. Jason Hoskins, who sponsored the bills and is the first LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the state's legislature, told the Associated Press that "banning [conversion therapy] is just one less thing that LGBTQ children will have to worry about going forward in Michigan.

Jeremy Moss, Michigan's first openly Gay state senator, addressed critics of the bills by saying this: "Hearing a bunch of straight people in the Senate lecture me about the journey of an LGBTQ person is the exact reason we should be banning conversion therapy."

Under the bills passed, conversion therapy is defined as any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. Notably, that doesn't include counseling for people going through a gender transition.

Now the only thing standing in the bill's way is the approval of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has called conversion therapy a "dangerous practice" in the past.

Arizona governor makes state money more LGBTQ+ friendly
With two executive orders on Tuesday this week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs banned state support of conversion therapy and allowed Trans employees of the state to receive gender-affirming care under their insurance plans. The second order reverses a ban on such coverage that was enacted in 2017.

Now the ongoing lawsuit brought by University of Arizona professor Russell Toomey can be resolved. Toomey sought coverage for a "medically necessary" gender-affirming surgery in 2019. Lawyers from the ACLU representing Toomey said they would enter a settlement with the state soon.

Earlier this month, Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have restricted Trans students' access to public school restrooms. In May, she vetoed a bill that would have forced schools not to refer to Trans students by their preferred names and pronouns.