Pittsburgh To Become First Pennsylvania City To Ban 'Ex-Gay' Therapy To Minors
- By
- Carlos Santoscoy
- | December 16, 2016
The Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits therapies to minors that attempt to alter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mayor Bill Peduto plans to sign the legislation.
“We join a growing list of cities that have taken these kinds of steps,” said Bruce Kraus, the council president and co-sponsor of the bill. “I suspect more will follow.”
Councilman Dan Gilman, who helped introduce the measure with Kraus, said that he had heard from constituents worried about Vice President-elect Mike Pence's “long-standing championing” of so-called conversion therapy. Pence in 2000 advocated for public funding for such therapies.
(Related: New York lawmaker's “PENCE” bill would ban 'ex-gay' therapy.)
Cities which have passed similar bans include Miami Beach, Wilton Manors, West Palm Beach, Cincinnati and Seattle.