Governor Andrew Cuomo is banning health insurers from covering a controversial psychiatric treatment designed to change a person's sexual orientation.

As part of the governor's executive order, the practice known as "conversion therapy" cannot be covered for gay, lesbian and transgender people under 18 years old.

Any mental health facility licensed, funded or operated by the state's Office of Mental Health is also prohibited from providing conversion therapy to minors.

In a statement the governor said:

"New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades — and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example. We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being who they are."