Saint Paul logo
File #: Ord 20-15    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
In control: City Council
Final action: 6/17/2020
Title: Creating Chapter 190 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code entitled "Prohibition of Conversion Therapy Directed to Minors."
Sponsors: Amy Brendmoen, Mitra Jalali, Dai Thao, Rebecca Noecker, Chris Tolbert, Nelsie Yang, Jane L. Prince
Attachments: 1. Comment rec'd by Council, 2. Allina Health Letter
Title
Creating Chapter 190 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code entitled "Prohibition of Conversion Therapy Directed to Minors."

Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, research, studies, and other available evidence show that conversion therapy or other practices that attempt to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity pose a significant risk of serious emotional and physical harm to those who undergo them such as anxiety, depression, hopelessness, social withdrawal, illegal drug use, and suicidality; and

WHEREAS, the consensus among medical and mental health professional organizations is that attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity lack any scientific basis and are in fact ineffective; and

WHEREAS, organizations who have made such policy statements or similar ones include: the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American School Counselor Association, American Counseling Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, the Pan American Health Organization, a regional office of the World Health Organization, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Bar Association, American School Counselor Association, American School Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, School Social Work Association of America; and

WHEREAS, the City has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of LGBTQ minors by protecting them from conversion therapy in the city and limi...

Click here for full text
Date NameDistrictOpinionCommentAction
6/17/2020 8:42 PMKen Harris Against The mental health care this ordinance would ban is not unethical. In fact it has helped many people. Nicholas A. ***mings, former president of the American Psychological ***ociation and former chief psychologist for Kaiser Permanente, writes, “Of the roughly 18,000 gay and ******* patients whom we treated over 25 years through Kaiser, I believe that most had satisfactory outcomes. The majority were able to attain a happier and more stable ****sexual lifestyle. Of the patients I oversaw who sought to change their orientation, hundreds were successful.” +1
6/17/2020 8:15 PMKen Harris Against Why do you want to ban certain kids who desire psychological help from receiving it in St.Paul? The American Psychological ***ociation acknowledges that some people, including children and adolescents, may experience “distress” about having same-sex attractions and consider such feelings to be unwanted, without mention of any outside coercion. So some minors want less distress and desire mental health care that will mitigate it. Supporters of this ordinance want, however, to ensure that those vulnerable minors are prohibited from receiving such medical care in St. Paul. Why vote to prolong suffering? The American Psychological ***ociation has acknowledged that “for some, sexual orientation identity . . . is fluid or has an indefinite outcome.” Why should St. Paul prevent minors from receiving help to arriving at the sexual identity that they say they want? Who are you to stand in their way? +1
6/17/2020 3:26 PMCasey Pick, The Trevor Project For The Trevor Project, the world's largest provider of suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ youth, strongly supports Ord 20-15, which will protect St. Paul's youth from dangerous and discredited conversion therapy efforts. In the last year, more than 1000 Minnesota youth have reached out to The Trevor Project for help. Nationwide, many of the youth we serve are survivors of conversion therapy, or have a credible fear of being subjected to conversion therapy. Thank you for acting on their behalf to end this practice in St. Paul. -2
6/17/2020 1:39 AMDale For I strongly support the ordinance before you to ban conversion therapy directed to minors. However, I respectfully ask you consider a Prohibition of all Conversion Therapy, regardless of the person being a minor or adult because there is no scientifically rigorous evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is considered unethical and harmful mental health practice. No one should be permitted to subject another person to harmful mental health practices. +2 -2