Oberlin Council passes resolution against conversion therapy

Oberlin has become the latest city in Ohio to pass legislation to restrict the use of conversion therapy, a practice that has been scientifically discredited for its attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling or behavior modification. Oberlin Ciity Council members voted unanimously Monday night to approve of a resolution that opposes the practice of conversion therapy on the city's LGBTQ+ youths. "There have been many states, many municipalities who have already taken a stance against it," Oberlin City Council member Libni Lopez said. "I work with queer, trans folks, and it's important that we protect individuals from practices that provide harm." Following the unanimous vote, Council members detailed the importance of protecting residents from the discredited practice. "It gives them an opportunity to know that there are certain municipalities that have ordinances, that have laws that do protect them," Lopez said. "It provides them a resource if they feel that they are being harmed by a clinician." Oberlin joins a growing list of other cities that have passed similar laws and legislation, including Cleveland, Cincinnati and Lorain. The resolution was weeks in the making. In previous public meetings, Oberlin City Council members have discussed the move — spearheaded by Lopez — and have mentioned the precedent that other communities such as Lorain have set. "Broadly, the consensus is that most folks who I've spoken with agree that some form of ban or some form of resolution condemning conversion therapy is what they would like to see the city do, again, to join the other municipalities," Lopez said during a June meeting. Before the resolution was passed Monday, multiple members of City Council touched on the issue of supporting the local LGBTQ+ community, offering support to action that would later come. "I really hope that this Council will continue to do so," Council member Joe Waltzer said in June of support for the LGBTQ+ community, adding that he would be "happy to do a resolution, but I hope we go further." Lorain City Council enacted a ban on conversion therapy in September. Violation of the ban carries a $500 to $1,000 fine per occurrence and the potential of one year in jail. The conviction would be forwarded to the health care professional's relevant licensing board for professional conduct review. However, unlike Lorain, Oberlin Council's action Monday night does not detail any consequence for individuals who may violate the resolution. Instead, the resolution stands as Oberlin Council's declaration to oppose the "practice of conversion therapy," according to the city's resolution. The resolution further states that Oberlin "supports ongoing efforts to research, develop and consider future legislation regulating conversion therapy by licensed professionals within city limits, in alignment with Oberlin's Social Equity Plan and legal best practices." Oberlin officials said Monday's resolution was the first step in outlawing conversion therapy. Waltzer and Lopez said they have heard from constituents, encouraging the Council to go further to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community. "That's also my hope, that it becomes some sort of ordinance or law," Lopez said. "It is moving forward." The recent legislation by Oberlin and Lorain follows movements throughout Ohio that aim to create safer and more inclusive cities for individuals of the LGBTQ+ community. Some politicians have attempted to outlaw conversion therapy statewide. Ohio Senate Bill 71 — first introduced in February by Sens. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, and Beth Liston, D-Dublin — seeks to prohibit specific health care professionals from engaging in conversion therapy on patients who are minors. The bill has been referred to the Senate Health Committee. "We're moving in the right direction," Lopez said. "Anything that we can do to provide more protections is moving in the right direction." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.