Michigan House passes bills to ban LGBTQ+ 'conversion therapy' for minors

by Gabrielle Dawson | News Channel 3 Thu, June 15th 2023, 9:54 AM EDT

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House of Representatives voted 56-53, passing House Bills 4616 and 4617 Wednesday.

The Democratic-backed bills could ban conversion therapy for minors, or any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Michigan Legislature.

House Bill 4616, introduced by Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Ann Arbor), looks to prevent mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.

If signed into law, professionals who are in violation would be disciplined.

House Bill 4617, introduced by Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield), defines conversion therapy as "any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender."

The legislation would not apply to religious institutions due to concerns over the infringement of the First Amendment, Tracy Hall, executive director for OutFront Kalamazoo, said.

However, Hall said religion is often a motivator for the practice.

"House Bills 4616 and 4617 change the law, not the child. There is no cure for one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. So-called conversion "therapy" refers to dangerous, harmful, and discredited practices that attempt to change a person's LGBTQ+ identity. Data indicates that 15% of Michigan's LGBTQ+ youth report being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy, and over 58,000 LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide this past year, according to The Trevor Project. House Bills 4616 and 4617 are suicide prevention bills," Erin Knott, Equality Michigan Executive Director said.

Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) criticized "the broad definitions that the Democrats have inserted into these bills" when defining what a mental health professional is, according to a statement.

"This is unimaginable precedent," Friske said. "To criminalize social workers for simply upholding natural law and refusing to buy into the new age left-wing gender schemes is outrageous!"

Original story link: https://wwmt.com/news/local/michigan-house-passes-bills-ban-conversion-therapy-minors-mental-health-gender-lgbtq