Westerville council bans conversion therapy for minors, 5-2

Westerville City Council on Feb. 18 approved an ordinance amending Section 5.11 of the city’s codified ordinances to ban conversion therapy for minors, passing 5-2.

The ordinance, introduced as Ordinance No. 20 25 02, prohibits “efforts to change an individual's gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression” when directed at minors, and routes complaints through the city’s existing nondiscrimination process.

The measure drew more than a dozen speakers during the public-comment period and substantial council discussion. Heidi Weaver Smith, founder of the local nonprofit Love Boldly, said she supported the ordinance: “I wish to speak in support tonight of ordinance 20 20 five-two, which introduces an amendment to ban conversion therapy within the city limits of Westerville.” Several other residents and local advocates described personal or professional reasons to ban the practice; Scott Landing, who said he underwent conversion therapy as an adult, said the practice “is the mentality that comes along with conversion therapy” and urged council to pass the ban.

Opponents raised questions about definitions, parental rights and legal process. One speaker asked, “Does the proposed ordinance specifically define conversion therapy? I did not see that anywhere, so I'd really like to find that out if possible.” Law Director Winkel told council the ordinance includes definitions in the nondiscrimination ordinance and had been drafted in line with federal and state court reviews of similar bans, saying, “If counsel looks at the ordinance, it's in 5 11 o 1 a f. And it defines conversion therapy essentially to mean efforts to change an individual's gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression, which are 3 defined terms in the nondiscrimination ordinance already.”

Council members discussed practical questions about complaints and minors. Councilmember Grimes and others pressed for clarity about the complaint form and whether filing would create a public record; city staff said the complaint process would include a notice that the complaint is a public record and that staff would refine the user interface to avoid creating an access barrier. Council also heard staff explain that a minor could submit a complaint and that the clerk would certify jurisdiction and the 180‑day filing window before the matter entered the established investigatory and hearing process used for other nondiscrimination complaints.

After debate, a motion to adopt the ordinance was moved and seconded; the roll call vote was: Mr. Grimes — Yes; Dr. Coombs — Yes; Mayor Wright — Yes; Vice Chair Reemschneider — Yes; Mr. Glasgow — Yes; Mr. Washburn — No; Chairman Hayek — No. The ordinance passed 5–2.

Council and staff emphasized due process components: complaints would be investigated by Columbus’s Community Relations Commission and, if warranted, proceed to a hearing officer with multiple fact‑finding stages. Law Director Winkel described the draft as “thoroughly researched and drafted based on what courts, federal courts have said about gender conversion therapy prohibitions in other states.”

The council did not specify an implementation date during the meeting. Councilmembers and residents said they expected the ordinance to protect minors while preserving investigative safeguards and procedural due process.

The decision follows similar local actions elsewhere and came after weeks of public comment and legal review. Several residents who spoke asked the council to continue outreach and to coordinate with local advocates and health providers on resources for youths and families.

The council meeting packet lists the ordinance as an amendment to Section 5.11 of the codified ordinance; the full text was available in the meeting materials.