Allegheny County Council on Tuesday voted to ban sexual orientation and gender conversion therapy for minors.
In an unexpected move, 12 council members voted to bypass the committee process, and in the end, Councilman Tom Baker, R-Moon, moved to the majority for a 13-2 final passage of the bill that prohibits any licensed mental health provider from administering the so-called conversion therapy.
“I never thought it would happen tonight,” said David West, 52, of Franklin Park. “I thought we’d just lay the groundwork tonight. I’m pleasantly shocked.”
Mr. West, the father of a transgender teen, and 13 others — including several mental health professionals — delivered public comment in favor of the ordinance, sponsored by Councilman Paul Klein, D-Point Breeze, and five other members.
Mr. Klein credited the speakers’ “moving insights” as a reason the legislation passed.
The therapy “has been rejected by virtually every professional organization in the mental health universe,” Mr. Klein said, calling it a “public health and safety threat.”
One person delivered public comment in favor of a dueling bill, sponsored by Councilman Sam DeMarco, at-large Republican. Mr. DeMarco’s bill aimed to ban certain methods — for example, electroshocking or inducing vomiting — but to keep legal “gender dysphoria treatment” and other “self-determined objectives” for minors if a parent should choose to seek it for a child.
Mr. DeMarco said he was “disappointed” that the bills did not go through the committee process and argued that his bill was about “freedom of choice” for minors and parents.
In addition to Mr. DeMarco, Councilwoman Cindy Kirk, R-McCandless, also voted no.
Jill Grenda, 47, of Cranberry, drove from Butler County with her teen to show support for the LGBTQ youth.
“Whether they say it’s a choice or not for the kids, it’s not. It’s the parent’s decision … so banning it prevents that from happening,” she said.
Council has been discussing the issue since March 2019.
Pittsburgh City Council unanimously voted to ban the practice in December 2016.
Ashley Murray: 412-263-1750, amurray@post-gazette.com or @Ashley__Murray.
First Published: February 12, 2020, 1:30 a.m.
