Allegheny County Council Takes Unexpected Vote to Ban Conversion Therapy Within County

The practice of conversion therapy is now illegal within Allegheny County. In an unexpected vote, Allegheny County Council passed a measure officially barring anyone from trying to convert LGBTQ minors. Some council members and those in attendance last night were surprised that the council voted on the bill. It passed by a vote of 13-2. The bill bans sexual orientation and gender conversion therapy for minors. Some council members called the therapy a public health and safety threat, saying the therapy has been rejected by virtually every professional organization in the mental health universe. Council has been discussing this since March of 2019…and they finally decided to vote on the bill last night.