As Tampa unanimously passes anti-gay conversion “therapy” ban, St. Pete lays groundwork for its own

On one side of the bay. council members passed a ban on the scientifically-challenged practice of "conversion therapy," a ban that carries with it hefty fines for any non-religious practitioner who purports a "cure" for gayness that's really just physical and mental abuse in drag. The vote among Tampa City Council members was unanimous, as it had been during previous discussions that helped move the ordinance forward.

On the other side of a bay during a simultaneous meeting of their St. Petersburg counterparts, a similar ban was proposed and council members unanimously voted to move it forward, which means now it needs to move through a series of meetings before coming law.

"It's been denounced by all the major organizations, the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, National Organization of Social Workers; there's, like, 20 or 30 organizations like that," said Councilman Steve Kornell.

His colleagues unanimously approved moving forward.

The action basically gets a proposed ban into the cue of proposals to be discussed initially in council committees that examine all aspects of potential new laws and tweak the language as needed.

Tampa's ban, while imposing big fines on practitioners who try to "convert" LGBT youth, does not apply to religious organizations, which are covered under the First Amendment despite how harmful the practice has been found to be, or therapists who try to use it on consenting adults.

This article appears in Apr 6-13, 2017.