ABOVE: Supporters of the Tallahassee conversion therapy ban at a city commission meeting earlier this year. (Photo from EQFL’s Wes Davis’ Facebook page)
Tallahassee’s city commission voted unanimously to ban so-called conversion therapy within city limits April 8.
The city ordinance is the most inclusive ban in the U.S., prohibiting the practice not only on minors but for vulnerable adults as well.
“We applaud the Tallahassee city commissioners for unanimously enacting an ordinance to ban conversion therapy for minors, but also going even further to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults,” said the SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) Action Fund in a statement. “Taking a stand against conversion therapy is an extremely important step in the right direction to support the well-being of Tallahassee’s LGBTQ+ residents. But the commission has also sent an important message to LGBTQ+ youth: you are perfect the way you are and do not need to be fixed.”
Tallahassee joins more than 20 Florida cities, counties and municipalities in banning the discredited practice, although most of those bans are for LGBTQ minors only. Florida lawmakers attempted to get a statewide ban on conversion therapy passed in this past legislative session but to no avail.
“We urge the rest of Florida to follow the example set by Tallahassee, and pledge to protect our youth from this heinous practice,” SPLC Action Fund stated.
The practice of conversion therapy has been discredited by all major medical groups including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association with each organization stating it has not only been shown to be ineffective, but actually has a negative impact on youth who experience it.
