Cuyahoga County residents urge council to ban conversion therapy as ordinance is introduced

Cuyahoga County Council on July 8 heard a string of public comments urging passage of Ordinance 20250003, a measure introduced at the meeting that would prohibit the practice of conversion therapy on minors and vulnerable adults. Council President Miller asked to be added as a cosponsor; the measure was referred to the Health, Human Services and Aging Committee for consideration.

The comments included personal testimony from survivors and professional statements about the harms of the practice. "I'm casting my voice in favor of this countywide ban," said Daniel Tyson, a 20-year survivor of the Living Waters conversion therapy program, who told council he was speaking on behalf of classmates who did not survive the practice. "This is your chance to be on the right side of our county's history," Tyson said.

Medical and professional organizations were cited by speakers as opposing conversion therapy. Brooks Boren, an attorney and president of the Cleveland So Mall Democrats, told council that the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have condemned conversion therapy, and called the measure a public-health and child-welfare action rather than a political one. Stephanie Ash, a licensed social worker and co-director for the region on the National Association of Social Workers Ohio chapter board, urged the council to pass the ordinance as aligning with social work ethics and as a way to reduce suicide risk among queer youth.

Other speakers who supported the ordinance included Brandon West, who said the city of Lorraine's earlier ban produced messages from families who felt safer seeking care; Andrew DeFreitas, who thanked Councilman Schlepper and called Cuyahoga County an appropriate place to act; and Robert Deming, a social work student and NASW Ohio policy intern, who called conversion therapy harmful and not evidence-based.

One member of the public, identified as Lou, offered a contrasting perspective, saying that government resources should focus on services such as shelter and the comment urged caution about what to prioritize; Lou's remarks were not framed as professional or clinical testimony on therapeutic practice.

Why it matters: supporters told council the proposed ban would protect minors and vulnerable adults from practices they say are discredited and harmful. Council action at the meeting was limited to introduction, referral to committee and addition of a cosponsor; no vote on final adoption occurred.

The ordinance will go to the Health, Human Services and Aging Committee for further hearings and deliberation.