APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton’s health board Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal to prevent licensed medical professionals from performing conversion therapy on children.
The resolution did get some changes before being sent off to the city’s common council.
Conversion therapy has sparked a controversial debate in the Appleton community.
“The public should be made aware of this, and all sides should be heard,” said resident Vicki Wells.
Wells does not agree with the ban proposal.
Ban supporters, like Misty Gedlinske of Appleton, tell FOX 11 conversion therapy is barbaric and damaging, especially for kids.
“This contributes to suicide, this contributes to self-harm. I think the idea that a dead child is somehow preferable to a queer or transgender child is abhorrent.”
She says the ban could stop parents from raising their children as they see fit.
“This really isn’t the city’s responsibility to step in here and would tie the hands of licensed professionals from saying what they feel is right for the child.”
Wells believes the ban is unnecessary in Appleton. She says she’s not aware of any licensed medical professional in the city practicing conversion therapy in the manner proponents of the ban have described.
“How many children will need to go through this, before we decide that it’s a serious enough problem to stop it? I would say that one is too many!” Gedlinske said.
Religious institutions and adults seeking therapy won’t be affected.
“Mental local health officials are licensed by the government, so it is especially the government’s job to guide our local mental health officials,” Kathy Flores, director of Diverse & Resilient said.
Originally, with the ban in place, a person could be fined $1000 for each day they are found to have practiced conversion therapy, but the approved amended version of the ordinance now throws that fine out.
Alleged violations will go to the State for investigation and enforcement, instead.
Even with those changes, some say the ban is a step in the right direction.
“It doesn’t go far enough, but it is a start, and it sets Appleton aside to say LGBTQ youth and LGBTQ adults are going to be welcomed here,” Flores said. “We’re going to protect those youth.”
Appleton’s city council will debate the conversion therapy ban on January 22nd.
