News Summary
The Columbia City Council has postponed a vote on repealing the conversion therapy ban for minors, originally set for Tuesday. This decision follows concerns from state officials about potential funding losses and the legality of the ban. Community feedback shows strong support for retaining the ban, emphasizing the risks of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ youth. The council is assessing the implications of state budget laws and community sentiments before making a decision.
Columbia – The Columbia City Council has postponed a scheduled vote on the repeal of the city’s ban on conversion therapy, originally set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The agenda item would have marked a significant step in striking down the 2021 ordinance that prohibits conversion therapy for minors within the city limits.
The decision to postpone the vote comes on the heels of multiple pressures facing the council. State Representative Bruce Bannister raised concerns regarding the implications of maintaining the ban, suggesting that local officials could face repercussions from a state budget law threatening to withdraw funding from local governments that continue to uphold such bans. Should Columbia keep the ordinance in place, it risks losing approximately $3.7 million in funding from the General Assembly.
Columbia, notably, is the only city in South Carolina with an active conversion therapy ban. The push for its repeal gained momentum following a letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who asserted that the ban is illegal and warned of potential legal actions to enforce its repeal. This development has heightened the stakes for the council as they deliberate the potential ramifications of their vote.
Previous attempts to conduct the vote on the repeal were delayed as council members sought further clarity regarding state budget resolutions. The city has been evaluating how the state budget could impact its financial commitments, contributing to the decision to defer the vote. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann expressed the necessity for the city to fully understand the implications of potentially losing crucial funding.
Community feedback during council meetings has consistently revealed strong support for retaining the ban, with numerous residents voicing concerns that conversion therapy poses significant risks to the mental well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. Advocates for the ban highlighted the potentially harmful consequences, including elevated risks of mental health issues and suicide among minors subjected to such therapies.
On the other hand, those favoring the repeal argue that sexual orientation is fluid and can change over time, advocating for the freedom of therapists to provide services that align with their beliefs, including religious-based counseling. This debate has intensified in light of an opinion issued by Attorney General Wilson in 2022, which questioned the legality of the ordinance and its constraints on therapist practices.
In recent legislative actions, the South Carolina Legislature enacted the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, which limits the authority of municipalities over counseling and therapy services. In light of this act, discussions are ongoing regarding potential amendments that could affect funding allocations for cities that maintain conversion therapy bans.
Public testimonies during council sessions included narratives from individuals directly impacted by conversion therapy, many of whom outlined the negative effects they experienced. Advocates for the ban have pointed out that a majority of conversion therapy practices are carried out by unlicensed religious organizations, which fall outside the regulatory scope of the licensed therapists the city ordinance aims to govern.
As the Columbia City Council continues to navigate the complex interplay of local governance and state legislation, the upcoming discussions and their outcomes are likely to hold significant implications for the future of conversion therapy in South Carolina, particularly for the vulnerable populations it affects.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Columbia City Council Delays Vote on Conversion Therapy Ban
Columbia City Council Delays Conversion Therapy Ban Decision
Columbia Prepares for Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy Ban
Additional Resources
- WLTX
- Wikipedia: Conversion Therapy
- SC Daily Gazette
- Google Search: Columbia conversion therapy ban
- WIS TV
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Conversion Therapy
- The State
- Google News: Conversion Therapy South Carolina
- WPDE
- Google Scholar: Conversion Therapy Legal Issues
- Spectrum News
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