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Green Bay council adopts nonbinding resolution opposing conversion therapy; adds religious counseling language
Summary
After a lengthy public comment period, the Common Council on July 15 approved a nonbinding resolution opposing conversion therapy and added explicit language to protect religious counseling; the council debated whether to wait for pending Supreme Court action but voted 9–1 to adopt the amended resolution.
The Green Bay Common Council voted July 15 to adopt a nonbinding resolution opposing conversion therapy practices and to express support for state-level legislation addressing the practice. The resolution was amended during that discussion to explicitly recognize religious counseling.
The item drew more than two hours of public comment from dozens of residents, faith leaders, health professionals and state lawmakers. Representative Ahmad Rivera Wagner, who said he represents a portion of the city and is a cosponsor of Senate Bill 324, urged the council to protect people from “a discredited practice,” saying “conversion therapy ends lives, causes damage.” Multiple pastors and residents in the meeting urged the council not to restrict pastoral or faith-based counseling.
Eric Kozwicki, a member of the public, urged the council to hold action until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in related cases and to add language protecting religious exercise; he recommended an explicit First Amendment–based religious exemption. The council instead pursued a narrower change: Alder Johnson moved an amendment to add the words “and religious counseling” to a clause that references pastoral conversations and freedom of religion; the amendment passed 9–1.
Council members discussed the difference between a nonbinding resolution, which expresses the body’s position, and an ordinance that would create enforceable law. Several members emphasized the resolution’s nonbinding status and described it as a statement in support of state legislation and to signal support for LGBTQ+ residents. Alder Presley, a sponsor of the item, said the resolution was brought forward in response to constituent requests and to support work at the state level.
A separate motion to hold the item until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on related cases was proposed but failed for lack of a second. After additional debate the amended nonbinding resolution was approved on a 9–1 roll-call vote; the minutes record the final tally as 9–1 in favor. Council members and staff said any future ordinance action would require separate referral and would carry different legal risks that the city would need to consider.
The council’s action does not change state law or create local prohibitions; it directs staff only to file the city’s position and does not impose penalties or enforcement requirements. The resolution and the added language recognizing religious counseling are intended as policy statements to support state-level legislation and to clarify that pastoral and religious counseling were not the target of the city’s statement.
