Conversion controversy: The battle over OK HB-1598

By Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief  

Today, in another uphill battle for LGBT advocates at the Oklahoma capitol, the ‘conversion therapy’ bill (HB 1598) passes in the Children, Youth, and Family Services Committee. The committee is chaired by bill author, Rep. Sally Kern.

Kern says the intention of the bill is to “just uphold the right of parents to choose the mental health and provider needs for their children as well as counselling for their children.”

LGBT advocates and people having experienced conversion therapy say otherwise.

“For a legislative body to have to clarify that they have stripped the ability of licensed therapists to use unnecessary electroshock therapy, induced vomiting, exposure to pornography, and child molestation out of their bill means that the original intent of the bill was to allow just that,” said Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of the LGBT rights group Freedom Oklahoma. “What else will it allow? This is a dangerous piece of legislation that needs to be stopped in its tracks. The state has a duty to protect children from abuse, not to put them in harm's way.”

Dialogue in the committee meeting earlier today included members and laypeople who had much to say and ask about the bill. However, members of the LGBT community or those having experienced conversion therapy were not invited to speak.

Rep. John Paul Jordan offered an amendment removing “pastor and youth minister” from definitions of mental health provider explaining, “It came to me as a concern that including an pastor or youth provider as the issue that comes before me, if a pastor or youth minister is trained, then they could do that [conversion therapy] anyway.”

He recognized that the person has the First Amendment right to visit with pastor about anything they choose.

“It’s because all across the nation, parents are being forced not to take their children in for this type of therapy,” said Kern adding, “It’s so the parental rights of the parent are upheld.”

However, that language was removed.

Kern was further questioned by freshman Rep. George Young who said, “Why would I need this bill to take my children in for counseling?” Kern said she aims to affirm parents’ rights for counselors to practice this therapy.

Young continued, “If I took my child in to a therapist for that reason…it seems as if it’s not the parental right the bill focuses on, it seems like the bill focuses on conversion therapy.”

“The bill is dealing with same sex attraction,” said Kern sharply, diverting from the fact that the bill was introduced as, “An Act relating to conversion therapy; creating the Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act.”

“I’m having a problem with the type of therapy that is being penned here,” Young added. “If I took my child to a mental health professional, why would I need a bill to dictate to the therapist a particular kind of therapy?”

Kern said she is trying to protect “these children” from same-sex attraction.

“Sexual orientation change therapy is done across the nation and this bill is to protect utilization of that therapy. Same sex attraction has a particular type of therapy and that is what this is about,” she said.

Rep. Ben Sherrer quizzed Kern what exact types of therapy she is seeking to authorize. She replied saying she is trying to help people struggling with same-sex attraction to “find the root of that problem.”

Rep. Pat Ownbey recognized that “therapists are lining up against the bill.” After reading the list of people authorized by this bill to perform this therapy, he asked if all these people have been trained in this.”

Kern smugly replied with, “It’s because you have only been seen by the people that oppose this.” She then read her list of people across the nation who approve this type of therapy. None were LGBT groups.

Ownbey asked if this could be pushing kids into self-destructive behavior.

“This bill will allow those kids getting counseling to hear both sides of ‘things’ that are forcing them to practice this behavior,” added Kern.

Young asked, “In Oklahoma, have we had a bill that is trying to dismiss conversion therapy?”

Steven Black, director of First Stone Ministries spoke stating he was once gay and now he is not. “Many people have called us out not wanting us to help people live a life of faith with Christ.”

Incidentally, Black operates a conversion therapy program in Oklahoma.

Kern said 47-49% of people who identify as LGBT have been sexually abused, later stating that information is on the NARTH website (The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality - an organization that offers conversion therapy), but she could not substantiate where the actual statistics were obtained.

The motion went to the floor, passing by a 5-3 vote. Those voting against the bill were Rep’s Sherrer, Young and Ownbey.

“Unbelievable,” gasped an attendee. 

“We would like to thank Rep. Ownbey, Rep. Young, and Rep. Sherrer for taking a stand for the protection of Oklahoma children,” Stevenson concluded.

Members of the committee are: Chair, Rep. Sally Kern; Vice Chair, Rep. Pam Peterson; Rep. John Paul Jordan, Rep. Pat Ownbey, Rep. Jason Nelson, Rep. Ben Sherrer, Rep. Tom Newell and Rep. George Young.

Click here for a complete list of Oklahoma House of Representatives phone and email contacts - www.okhouse.gov/members/

Published 2/24/2015 @ 4pm.