Kern’s extremely dangerous conversion “therapy” bill

The ambiguously named “Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act,” (HB 1598) filed by Republican State Representative Sally Kern, is an attempt to legitimize and provide special state protection to a dangerous and discredited practice that has been denounced by every major medical and mental health association in the country, including the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association.

HRC Senior Legislative Counsel Alison Gill said: “So-called conversion ‘therapy’ uses fear and shame, telling young people that the only way to find love or acceptance is to change the very nature of who they are. Psychological abuse has no place in therapy, no matter the intention, and for Oklahoma State Rep Kern to introduce this bill, using her stature to tell young people that who they are is bad or wrong, is both immoral and seriously harmful.”

“Conversion therapy,” sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts,” is a range of dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. These harmful practices are based on the false claim that being LGBT is a mental illness that can and should be cured. Unfortunately, young LGBT people are particularly vulnerable to being coerced into to these harmful practices, which can result in negative outcomes such as depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideations, and suicidal behavior.

NCLR Staff Attorney and #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator Samantha Ames said: “The proposed bill to legalize the deadly practice of conversion therapy on LGBT children is shockingly irresponsible. All children deserve to be loved, accepted, and supported by their communities. Every day, we work with parents and families who deeply regret harming their children by trying to force them to change who they are. This horrifying bill is a wake-up call for Oklahoma and the entire country. There is no place in our communities for these dangerous practices, which have been condemned by every major medical and mental health association in the country.”

HRC and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have partnered with state equality groups to pass state legislation to end this dangerous pseudoscience, including laws passed in California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. In August of 2013, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California’s ban, which was signed into law by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown in 2012. In September of this year, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey’s ban, which was signed into law by Republican Governor Chris Christie in August of 2013. NCLR attorneys have assisted in the defense of every state bill to date.

Freedom Oklahoma’s executive director, Troy Stevenson, led the legislative campaign to end the practice in the state of New Jersey in 2013 before returning to Oklahoma to lead The Equality Network and the newly formed Freedom Oklahoma.

More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found atwww.NCLRights.org/BornPerfect.

To read HB 1598, go to www.oklegislature.gov/AdvancedSearchForm.aspx, type HB 1598 under “Measure Number(s), click ‘Retrieve.’ You can read the bill by clicking on ‘Introduced’ and you can receive email updates about it by clicking ‘Receive Email Updates’ and entering your email.

Freedom Oklahoma is Oklahoma's statewide LGBT advocacy organization and a proud member of the Equality Federation. Freedom Oklahoma is the unified organization resulting from the merger of The Equality Network, a 501 (c) (4) organization that lobbies for pro-equality legislation and public policies; and the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization engaging in public education in support of the LGBT community. 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.

The Gayly – January 29, 2015 @ 3:15pm.