A federal magistrate is recommending
partially blocking Tampa's ban on therapies that attempt to alter the
sexual orientation or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender youth.
Such therapies go by names such as
“conversion therapy,” “reparative therapy,” “sexual
orientation change efforts” or “ex-gay therapy.”
The Christian legal advocacy group
Liberty Counsel sued the city after it approved its ban in 2017. The
group argues that the city's ban is unconstitutional because it
prohibits the therapists it represents from taking part in “speech”
through their counseling.
Last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda
Sansone recommended a partial injunction against the ban which would
allow “non-coercive” therapies that consist entirely of talking,
while banning “aversive” therapies such as electroshock therapy,
The
Washington Post reported.
Sansone's recommendation will be
considered by a district judge, who will issue a ruling.
California was the first state to enact
a state-wide ban. The Supreme Court has twice upheld California's
ban on “conversion therapy” to minors.