The Seattle City Council on Monday
unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits therapies that
attempt to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT
youth.
The legislation is expected to take
effect two months after Mayor Ed Murray signs it. Murray, who is
openly gay, endorsed the measure.
Under the legislation, licensed mental
health professional who provide so-called conversion therapy to
minors will face civil penalties.
Seattle becomes the third city behind
Cincinnati and Miami Beach to approve such legislation.
Six states – California, New York,
New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois and Vermont – and the District of
Columbia have approved similar bans. Similar bills were introduced
in more than 20 states this year, according to the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate.
Republicans officially oppose such
measures. The Republican Party's platform, approved at the party's
convention last month, supports the right of parents to seek such
treatments for their children.
(Related: Chelsea
Clinton blasts GOP platform's opposition to LGBT rights.)