Call to ban conversion therapy in Orange County at rally
More than 100 people gathered on the second floor of Stonewall Bar Thursday evening to kick off a push to ban gay conversion therapy in Orange County.
The practice, which is banned in 18 states and 21 Florida cities and counties, is used often by religious leaders to change the sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity of LGBTQ people.
While smaller pushes to pass a ban in Central Florida have happened in recent years, elected officials have not taken on the proposal. But after an online petition received nearly 5,000 signatures after being circulated last month, the LGBTQ community and advocates look to push more forcefully.
Eric Rollings, a community activist who emceed the rally at Stonewall Bar, said the goal is to put a ban on the agenda for the Orange County Commission’s meeting on Sept. 10.
“If we save one life, if we prevent one attempted suicide, if we can make sure kids that are affected by conversion therapy,” it’s worth the effort, Rollings said.
Bills proposing a statewide ban have been introduced in the state legislature for several years, but have failed without a hearing, said state Sen. Linda Stewart. The Orlando Democrat
hopes the issue will receive further attention in Tallahassee as more counties and cities pass their own bans.
Critics of conversion therapy say the practice is detrimental to LGBTQ people, who are forced to suppress or deny their sexuality and gender identity which has led many to die by suicide.
Its proponents, like the Orlando-based law firm Liberty Counsel, argue the bans go against the right to religious freedom. But Alan Chambers — the former president of the defunct Exodus International,
which was known for providing conversion therapy — said the practice does not work and uses faith as a means of stigmatizing young people from coming out.
“While I’m thankful for my roots and my faith, the fact is it didn’t teach me anything about being gay,” said Chambers, who came out as gay at 11. “It only taught me how to be ashamed and to be afraid.”
He added, “What I’ve learned and what I began to learn as I led that organization was that not only was I hurting myself, but I was hurting others.”
Policy analysts said many of the bans currently in place often don’t
go far enough to curb conversion therapy as it applies to licensed mental health providers and not religious officials. A June report estimated 57,000 LGBTQ teens will receive conversion therapy from spiritual advisers before they turn 18, even in places where a ban exists.
Many of the bans put in place, including some in Florida, have been challenged in the courts by Liberty Counsel. The law firm is now looking into suing Alachua County for a ban it passed last month.