Lincoln Nebraska City Council Bans Gay Conversion Therapy
On February 22nd, 2021 the city of Lincoln became the first city in Nebraska to pass an ordinance banning conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. The vote was 5-1. According to the Lincoln Journal Star the ordinance “bars counselors, psychiatrists and therapists from seeking to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor.” Council members James Michael Bowers, Tammy Ward, Sandra Washington, Bennie Shobe, and Jane Raybould voted in favor of the ban while Council member Roy Christensen stood as the lone voice on the council against the passage of the ordinance. Council member Richard Meginnis was absent. The ordinance was introduced at a council meeting on February 1st, held a public hearing on February 8th, and was voted into law on February 22nd.
On the night of the vote Council member James Michael Bowers wrote on Facebook, “We protected LGBTQ youth and sent a clear message: we love you. There is nothing wrong with you. You are wonderful, you have a future, and it does get better.” Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird stood in full support of the measure. According to the Associated Press the Mayor was in support of the measure stating that she was “heartened by the council’s action this evening to protect the safety and health of youth” in her community.
According to Thomas More Society attorney Michael McHale, the ordinance stands in violation of the First Amendment. In testimony which he gave before the Lincoln City Council on February 8th, 2021 McHale stated, “Because the ordinance would prohibit even benign talk therapy on one particular viewpoint—therapy which is initiated at the behest of patients—it would blatantly violate the First Amendment.” McHale believes “This lopsided ordinance would . . . restrict expression because of its message, its subject matter, and its content, which would prohibit counseling that talks about reducing same-sex attraction or overcoming gender dysphoria, but not from seeking therapy that affirms same-sex attraction or promotes gender dysphoria.”
