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Commissioners debate how to revise Ann Arbor’s conversion‑therapy language after Supreme Court ruling
Summary
Following a recent Supreme Court decision, commissioners discussed model language being drafted to narrow local bans to therapy with a predetermined outcome and agreed to consult the city attorney and outside advocates before amending local law.
The commission discussed next steps for the city’s conversion‑therapy ordinance after a recent Supreme Court ruling narrowed the state’s ability to restrict some counseling practices.
Commissioners and speakers cited work by the National Center for Lesbian Rights to craft language that targets therapeutic practices with a predetermined outcome rather than broadly restricting licensed talk therapy. Speakers debated whether that narrower framing could unintentionally include outcome‑oriented but widely accepted modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and whether clergy counseling would remain outside regulation. One commissioner noted the risk that an overbroad local ban could be vulnerable to legal challenge and that consulting city attorneys and advocates was necessary before making substantive changes.
The commission asked staff to consult with the city attorney, reach out to organizations involved in prior drafting, and report back with recommended language and analysis of legal risks. No ordinance amendment or formal vote was taken at the meeting.
