Lorain bans conversion therapy on minors

LORAIN — Lorain is now the 12th city in Ohio to ban conversion therapy on minors. City Council passed the ban on Tuesday, making it a misdemeanor to use what has been scientifically discredited to attempt to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling or behavior modification. Violation of the ban carries a $500 to $1,000 fine per occurrence and the potential of one year in jail and the conviction would be forwarded to the health care professional's relevant licensing board for professional conduct review. The practice has been banned in 11 other municipalities and has been discredited or condemned by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association and the American Medical Association. Local advocate Brandon West spoke in support of the ban at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "Conversion therapy has no place in Lorain or anywhere," he said. "It causes lasting harm, increases the risk of youth suicide and spreads a message of intolerance. By passing this ordnance, we are taking a stand for love, acceptance and the right for everyone to live their truth without fear or shame." He said the ban was a preventive measure to make the International City a safer, more inclusive place. Emily Cole also spoke at Tuesday's meeting, echoing West's support for the measure. She referenced a December report from The Trevor Project on the practice, which estimated more than 1,300 practitioners were active in the country. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Minnesota and Missouri were found to have the highest number of practitioners, according to the report. The Trevor Project is a nonprofit suicide-prevention organization targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. She said conversion therapy and its associated harms, including substance abuse, depression, anxiety and suicide attempts, have an estimated $9.2 billion cost to the U.S. economy, according to The Trevor Project's report. West said he plans to present a similar ban to the Cuyahoga County Council. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.