1. Proposed Conversion Therapy Ban
Ken Shelin
Sarasota City Commission Special Presentation
January 16, 2018

2. What is Conversion or Reparative Therapy?
A debunked practice purporting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity

3. Does any recognized Professional mental health organization recognize it as legitimate?
NO!

4. American Psychological Association American Psychiatric Association American Academy of Pediatrics Pan American Health Organization World Psychiatric Association American Psychoanalytic Association American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry American School Counselor Association Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services of US DHHS American College of Physicians
All of these organizations say conversion therapy is ineffective, lacks medical justification and can cause physical and/or emotional harm especially to adolescents or young people

5. What Kind of harm? Depression – 5 times more likely Sense of guilt
Anxiety
Illegal drug use – 3 times more likely
Homelessness
Self-harm
Suicide or attempted suicide – 8 times more likely
Family rejection
Societal rejection

6. World psychiatric association says:
Same sex attraction, orientation and behavior are normal variants of human sexuality

7. What am I asking the Sarasota City Commission do?
Ban conversion or reparative therapy in the city by Florida licensed professionals under Chapters 456, 458, 459, 490 or 491 on minors

8. Both challenges based on infringement of free speech
Challenges to such bans have only occurred twice in California and New Jersey
Both challenges based on infringement of free speech

9. SCOTUS let New Jersey decision stand.
In California case, appellate court said therapy wasn’t speech, but was conduct and not protected. In New Jersey case, appellate court said therapy may have been speech, but was different from ordinary speech which included political, commercial and professional speech. Held that it was professional speech and not protected.
SCOTUS let New Jersey decision stand.

10. Proposed Ordinance is narrowly constructed
Does not prevent mental health providers from speaking to the public about conversion therapy
Does not prevent administration of conversion therapy to any person who is 18 years of age or older
Does not prevent referring of minors to religious leaders

11. In order to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors including our LGBTQ youth, please direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance banning the practice of conversion therapy within city limits and to set it for public hearing
Thank you!