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Dan Reynolds Decries Conversion Therapy at Billboard Music Awards

The Imagine Dragons frontman went from Mormon missionary to LGBTQ ally.

Dan Reynolds knows where the real demons hide.

Accepting the award for Top Rock Artist last night at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, the 31-year-old Imagine Dragons frontman and LGBTQ ally called on state legislators to outlaw conversion therapy, the dangerous practice seeking to change the orientation or identity of LGBTQ people.

"I just want to take this moment to say there are still 34 states that have no laws banning conversion therapy," Reynolds said. "And on top of that, 58% of our LGBTQ population live in those states."

"This can change, but it’s going to take all of us talking to our state legislation, pushing forward laws to protect our LGBTQ youth," he continued. "Lastly, we have seen with conversion therapy that our LGBTQ youth have doubled the rate of depression, tripled the rate of suicide after conversion therapy. It's not working, it needs to change.”

The documentary Believer charts Reynolds' journey from young Mormon missionary, regretfully preaching anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, to Pride flag-waving LGBTQ advocate.

A recipient of the Trevor Project's Hero Award, Reynolds has also worked with organizations like GLAAD and anti-bullying group Stand4kind. He and his Imagine Dragons bandmates even organized Love Loud, a Utah music festival uplifting silenced voices of local LGBTQ youth.

"To be gay is beautiful and right and perfect," he said at the 2017 TrevorLIVE gala. "To tell someone they need to change their innermost being is setting up someone for an unhealthy life and unhealthy foundation."

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