North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) signed an executive order Friday banning the use of state and federal funds for LGBTQ conversion therapy for minors.

The order directed the state's Department of Health and Human Services to "take steps to expressly disallow payment of DHHS allocated state and federal funds for conversion therapy for individual patients" who are under 18.

The order's purpose was to "promote and implement actions that protect the wellbeing of all North Carolina residents regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression" and make sure funds "are used only for effective and therapeutic services that are supported by credible evidence and medical experts."

Cooper tweeted that the measure will help to protect children.

The Trevor Project, a support organization for LGBTQ youth, celebrated the move in a tweet.