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Council asks law department to review Supreme Court decision affecting local conversion-therapy ban
Summary
After the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Childs v. Salazar struck down provisions like Cincinnati's 2015 conversion-therapy ban, the Budget & Finance Committee asked the law department to analyze the ruling and propose options to preserve protections for LGBTQ and transgender residents.
The committee asked the city's law department to review a March 31, 2026 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Childs v. Salazar and to provide options for preserving local protections that are consistent with the ruling. Council member Krammerding introduced the motion and said the law department should examine how the city can "comport with the Salazar decision" while protecting residents.
Council member Albee and Vice Mayor Jan Michelle Kearney expressed strong support for the review. Albee said the council has "made it clear that we support our trans residents" and praised past local actions such as raising a trans visibility flag and creating an LGBTQ commission. Kearney pointed to statements from medical organizations and the decision's dissent by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson when urging legal work to prevent a return of harmful practices.
Council member Jeffries cited evidence of harm tied to conversion therapy, saying people who undergo the practice are "twice as more likely to attempt suicide." The motion asked the law department to identify options that align with the court's ruling and preserve protections; the committee did not take a separate recorded vote on the motion during this meeting.
The law department was asked to return with legal options and drafting instructions for council consideration. No immediate ordinance or ordinance numbers were introduced at the committee meeting; the item was a request for legal analysis and possible follow-up.
