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Residents tell Columbia council to keep cityordinance banning conversion therapy amid AG review
Summary
Multiple speakers at a Columbia City Council meeting urged the council not to repeal Ordinance 20-21-21, which bans licensed practitioners from providing so-called conversion therapy to minors, citing health and safety concerns and a recent Attorney Generalopinion.
Dozens of residents and health professionals urged the Columbia City Council on Tuesday to keep in place the city's ordinance that bars licensed providers from practicing so-called conversion therapy on minors.
The speakers responded to a letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson recommending repeal. "Conversion therapy is not merciful. Conversion therapy is not justice, and conversion therapy is not humble," the Rev. Karen Ramasson told the council, citing religious reasons for opposing repeal. "Please oppose such an idea."
The presenters framed the issue as a public-health and child-protection matter. PJ Whitehurst, a community health worker and safe-space outreach coordinator, said he has worked with LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity and warned of harm if the ordinance is undone. "Conversion therapy is not therapy. It's child abuse," Whitehurst said, adding that repealing the ban would "be the cause of their abuse" and could contribute to suicides among youth.
Christina…
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