In a unanimous vote hours after hearing emotional testimony, the St. Paul City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ban conversion therapy for minors, hailed as a victory for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month.
Bans are supported by dozens of established medical and mental health organizations including the American Psychiatric Association. Conversion therapy refers to efforts by mental health providers to try to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Dr. Andy Johnson, associate professor of psychology at Bethel spoke in favor during the public hearing.
"This is not a matter of religion," Johnson said. "This is a matter of putting an end to mental health malpractice."
He cited research that provides evidence that it’s not just ineffective, but could have damaging effects.
"There is no scientifically rigorous evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of conversion therapy," Johnson said. "Scientific studies have found negative effects associated with conversion therapy, however, including increased levels of depression suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and substance abuse in adults. Recent research has found adolescents surviving conversion therapy to have less educational attainment, in addition to increased depression and suicide risk adults survivors of conversion therapy experience."
Jordan Miller called his conversion therapy experience, including the "constant pressure" to suppress his identity "torture."
"There was an incident where I took a JC Penney catalog and I went outside -- my parents have horses -- and I would browse through the men's section of the JC Penney catalog and I would grab an electric fence in an attempt to cure myself because the conversion therapy program wasn't doing its job."
He said it’s something "no child should endure."
The vote from councilmembers was 7-0.
"It's so dehumanizing to know that there are packs of certain people who really believe in stripping that away from others because of their gender because of sexual orientation and we know that that list goes on and on and this is such an important step for all of us," Ward 6 Councilmember Nelsie Yang said.
Ward 2 Councilmember Rebecca Noecker said passage of laws like this, and marriage equality years ago, are thanks to the vulnerability and courage of those willing to share their painful stories.
"I would highly recommend everyone go and listen to the testimony that we heard this morning," she said. "It is those personal stories that not only illustrate how traumatic and abusive this practice is, but those are also the stories that are going to convince people who do not believe this practice is abusive and that it should be banned. Those are the kinds of stories that bring people around, that humanizing."
Those who practice could face up to a $1,000 fine. Minneapolis passed a similar one last year.
The next focus for advocates is the capitol, where a statewide ban failed in the last legislative session.