Jackson County to hold public hearing to discuss ban on conversion therapy for minors
The Jackson County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will hold a public hearing Thursday evening for a proposed ordinance banning healthcare providers from practicing conversion therapy for minors.
Ordinance 5711, introduced by county legislators Jalen Anderson and Manny Abarca IV, defines conversion therapy as “any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” including “efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions” of anyone under 18.
Attempts to make a child heterosexual using therapy, which Abarca said is sometimes done by counselors or through organizations, would be illegal in Jackson County under the ordinance.
Anyone found in violation would be subject to a $500 penalty, according to Abarca, and organizations that employ a person found guilty of conversion therapy would be prohibited from receiving county funding. Abarca said the organizational penalty was an important piece of the ordinance, as many times conversion therapy is an effort by larger groups.
The ordinance specifies that conversion therapy does not include counseling that provides “support and assistance” to LGBTQ youth, provided it does not seek to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It does not apply to sexual orientation-neutral treatment that prevents illegal conduct or unsafe sex.
The ordinance specifies that the penalty applies to individuals who are licensed mental health or medical providers, rather than parents or guardians.
While a conversion therapy ban already exists in Kansas City, Abarca said the ordinance seeks to counteract state laws he sees as anti-LGBTQ.
“This signifies in Jackson County that these are issues we want to hear about and care about,” Abarca said.
There is currently no statute in Missouri prohibiting conversion therapy on minors.
The legislative proposal was a communal effort between many organizations, including The Trevor Project, Kansas City LGBTQ Commission and the ACLU of Missouri, according to Abarca.
The hearing will be held at the Paseo Academy of Fine & Performing Arts Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Those who would like to testify during the public comment portion of the evening are asked to RSVP.
After hearing testimony, the DEI Committee will vote on its recommendation on advancing the legislation to the Jackson County Legislature.